The year 2020 saw the emergence of a novel coronavirus—the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2— which has led to an unprecedented pandemic that has shaken the entire world. The pandemic has been a new experience for Malaysia, especially during the implementation of large-scale public health and social measures called the Movement Control Order (MCO). This paper seeks to describe the experiences of the Malaysian healthcare system thus far in combatting the pandemic. The Malaysian healthcare system comprises two main arms: public health and medicine. The public health arm focuses on early disease detection, contact tracing, quarantines, the MCO, and risk stratification strategies in the community. The medical arm focuses on the clinical management of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients; it encompasses laboratory services, the devising of clinical setting adjustments, and hospital management for COVID-19 and non-COVID-19 patients. Malaysia experienced intense emotions at the beginning of the pandemic, with great uncertainty regarding the pandemic’s outcome, as the world saw a frighteningly high COVID-19 mortality. As of writing (May 30, 2020), Malaysia has passed the peak of its second wave of infections. The experience thus far has helped in preparing the country’s healthcare system to be vigilant and more prepared for future COVID-19 waves. To date, the pandemic has changed many aspects of Malaysia’s life, and people are still learning to adapt to new norms in their lives.

Citations

• Speech-language Telepractice Services During the COVID-19 Lockdown: Perspectives from Parents in Malaysia
  Jing Feng, Xiao P. Choong, Pui J. Woi, Siaw C. Chai, Tian K. Quar, Jaehoon Lee, Shin Y. Chu
  International Journal of Telerehabilitation.2025;[Epub]     CrossRef
• Geographical Debate on COVID-19’s Impact on Healthcare Access and Utilization in Vulnerable Malaysian Communities
  Lay Im Lim, Mohammad Javad Maghsoodi Tilaki, Sharifah R. S. Dawood, Su Jinxia
  Societies.2025; 15(7): 172.     CrossRef
• Impacts Sustained by Healthcare Services in 
Malaysia During the COVID-19 Lockdown: 
Lessons Learnt Via a Cross-sectional Analysis 
from the Perspective of Healthcare Providers
  Nicholas Yee Liang Hing, Chin Tho Leong, Ramani Subramaniam Kalianan, Amanda Wei-Yin Lim, Ching Ee Loo, Yuan Liang Woon
  Journal of Health Management.2025;[Epub]     CrossRef
• Unveiling the Nexus Between Intellectual Capital Efficiency and Financial Performance in Malaysia's Healthcare Sector Amidst the Covid-19 Crisis
  Noor Sharida Badri Shah, Roslan Ja’afar
  Information Management and Business Review.2024; 16(1(I)): 262.     CrossRef
• An Online Survey of the Perceptions of Clinical and Non-Clinical Professionals on Healthcare for Non-Communicable Diseases and COVID-19 Measures During the Pandemic in Malaysia
  Sugitha Sureshkumar, Feisul Mustapha, Haironi Yusoff, Kibachio Joseph Mwangi, Kailing Marcus, Bogomil Kohlbrenner, David Issom, Mohamed-Rida Benissa, Sigiriya Aebischer-Perone, Nirit Braha, Egidio Candela, Kumar Gaurav Chhabra, B. R. Desikachari, Arianna
  International Journal of Public Health.2023;[Epub]     CrossRef