(Bandar Seri Begawan, 17th) Brunei's Minister of Health, Dato Isham, stated in Parliament that Brunei is actively enhancing health awareness campaigns. Through community-based promotions, raising awareness, and encouraging early action, effective prevention depends not only on clinical services but also on the public’s own understanding and early action.
The Ministry of Health has now officially classified obesity as one of Brunei's non-communicable diseases.
This move is significant because obesity is no longer simply a lifestyle issue. It is a major risk factor for diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, hypertension, stroke, and various cancers—all of which impose tremendous pressure on both people's health and national finances.
From a financial perspective, studies show that in 2019, obesity cost Brunei an estimated US$132 million, equivalent to 1% of GDP. If more effective measures are not taken, this is expected to rise to 2.2% of GDP by 2035.
This means that without strengthened early intervention, the nation will continue to bear even greater costs—spending on diabetes treatment, heart disease, stroke, kidney failure, productivity losses, and other preventable complications.
Besides establishing an Obesity Taskforce in 2024, the Ministry of Health has also taken a historic step by strengthening the nation's capacity to address obesity, becoming the first WHO member state in the world to pioneer implementation of the WHO Chronic Obesity Care Curriculum through a Primary Health Care (PHC) model.
Obesity management is and will continue to be strengthened in a more systematic, evidence-based manner that meets current healthcare system needs. In addition, the International Conference on Non-Communicable Diseases scheduled for October 2025 has yielded encouraging results, with an expected attendance of 26,000. This conference not only consolidates Brunei’s position on the international non-communicable disease agenda, but also opens up opportunities for the country to leverage knowledge networks, share best practices, and establish technical cooperation to support implementation of new policies for non-communicable disease management.
Furthermore, mental health issues are a challenge for public health, with increasing attention being paid both worldwide and in Brunei.
According to the World Health Organization, nearly a billion people worldwide suffer from mental disorders.
In Brunei, the number of people receiving mental health treatment in 2024 increased by 17% compared to the previous year. The Adult Psychiatry Department at BSB Central Hospital receives about 35-49 new cases and about 800 follow-up cases each month, while the Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Department receives about 10 new cases and 50 follow-up cases per month. The psychology department receives an average of 500-600 new cases per month.
To address this, the Ministry of Health has implemented the Mental Health Action Plan 2022-2025, and as of the end of 2025, 28 out of 32 key initiatives of the plan have already been put in place. In addition, 229 community outreach programs have been conducted to raise public awareness and knowledge of mental health, including basic mental health training courses for community leaders (especially village heads and zone leaders from the four districts). The introduction of this course benefited from close collaboration between the Ministry of Health and other important stakeholders, including the Ministry of Home Affairs, the Ministry of Religious Affairs (especially the Counselling and Religious Understanding Unit and the Islamic Da'wah Centre), with support from Sultan Sharif Ali Islamic University (UNISSA).
This helps to eliminate discrimination against people with mental health issues or illnesses and strengthens early support at the community level. God willing, these efforts will continue and be further reinforced in the near future through Mental Health Action Plan 2.0, thus strengthening the direction of national mental health policy and strategies.
Dato Isham also emphasized in Parliament that another important priority supporting system sustainability is digital transformation.
“In the health sector, digitalization is not just about system modernization. It also concerns workflow efficiency, data integration, reduction of repetitive work, resource management, and patient experience. The Bru-HIMS 2.0 system is scheduled for implementation in October 2026, with pilot tests at the BSB Central Hospital. This system is expected to enhance system stability, data integration, and cybersecurity, helping medical services to operate in a more organized and efficient manner. For this, the Ministry hopes the public will cooperate, understand, and be patient during the initial phase of the new system rollout, as significant improvements usually require some adjustment time before all parties can fully appreciate the benefits.
Similarly, the use of the BruHealth app for appointments and queuing systems in multiple health institutions is also the case.
Operationally, such initiatives may seem minor but are in fact far-reaching. They help to relieve congestion at medical institutions, improve time management, enhance patient convenience, and support more effective use of resources. In the long run, a more integrated system will help the Ministry of Health more accurately plan allocation of funds and manpower.
He also pointed out that the busyness of some hospitals and medical institutions is partly due to some patients with less severe conditions who could receive early treatment through proper guidance. Therefore, public health literacy will continue to be strengthened, and plans are in place to introduce AI technology in the BruHealth system in the third quarter of 2026 to help the public get early guidance and make more suitable decisions before heading to a medical facility. This approach is expected to support more organized, efficient, and effective use of healthcare services.
“From a governance perspective, strengthening a more orderly, secure, and reliable data ecosystem is also critical. More accurate data helps better resource allocation planning, prevents over- or under-resourcing, enables monitoring of resource usage, and supports more evidence-based decision making. In the context of constantly rising costs, such efficiency is not to be taken for granted, as systemic weaknesses ultimately cause loss of time and money and lower the quality of public service.”
He stated that over BND11,000,000 in progressive spending has already been allocated to support health infrastructure and assets. This includes building maintenance, purchase and leasing of old medical assets, and related upgrading works. Such practices are crucial because early maintenance of assets is more beneficial and economical than waiting for damage to worsen and incurring higher repair costs. Projects receiving continuous attention include upgrades to BSB Central Hospital; construction of the new wing at Raja Isteri Pengiran Anak Saleha Hospital; construction of Mengkubau Health Centre; construction of BSB Health Centre; and construction of the new Reference Laboratory building. These projects are not only vital for meeting current demands, but also for strengthening the national health system's capacity in the long run.
In terms of strengthening emergency services, the Ministry of Health has also added seven new ambulances, including two intensive care ambulances equipped with negative pressure systems and five four-wheel drive ambulances. This is a highly practical measure, as the ability to respond swiftly and effectively to emergencies directly affects patient safety—especially for those in critical condition, in remote areas, or facing particular and challenging situations.
From a public health preparedness perspective, international recognition of the country's laboratory capabilities is also crucial. The National Virology Laboratory has received World Health Organization recognition. The Reference Laboratory, serving as the National Influenza Centre and National Virology Reference Laboratory, has also been certified by WHO as a National Measles and Rubella Laboratory. These certifications enhance the country's readiness to deal with epidemic threats and provide access to technical support, expert training, and global epidemiological information.
While easing pressure on the public system, the Ministry continues to strengthen cooperation with the private sector in a prudent manner. The increase in private clinics shows that the sector is also developing and can help relieve pressure on government institutions in certain suitable areas. By 2025, there will be 62 private medical clinics and 9 private dental clinics nationwide, up from 35 medical clinics and 3 dental clinics five years ago.
Models such as Public-Private Partnerships (PPP) and projects such as kidney dialysis services demonstrate that cooperation with the private sector helps maintain critical services without entirely burdening the public budget. Such models should continue to be implemented in an orderly manner.
The government still bears the foremost responsibility of ensuring all citizens' access to essential and critical services. However, good cooperation with the private sector in appropriate areas helps improve service efficiency, expand choices, and allow public resources to be more concentrated on areas most in need of government-subsidized support.
At the international and regional levels, Brunei actively participates in the work of the WHO and ASEAN, continuously bringing tangible benefits to the country—especially in obtaining technical support, sharing best practices, strengthening public health preparedness, and formulating more evidence-based policies.
In this regard, Brunei's role as a member of the Executive Board of WHO is vital, as it gives the country an opportunity to shape global health development while ensuring Brunei’s interests are reflected in every technical and policy discussion. In addition, this year Brunei will again chair the ASEAN Health Cluster 3 meeting to formulate the 2026-2030 work plan. This role is critical for strengthening regional collaboration and building a more resilient health system to meet current needs, including strengthening health systems through human resources, financing, and policymaking to ensure Universal Health Coverage (UHC) by 2030; increasing access to essential medicines, vaccines, and traditional/complementary medicine to improve service and medication access; promoting innovation and technology to further digital health technology, and strengthening Health Technology Assessment (HTA) to support evidence-based decisions; and ensuring equitable healthcare for vulnerable groups (women, children, and migrant workers).
Taking all these matters into account, it is clear the Ministry of Health’s allocation is not just to pay annual operating expenses. The budget aims to ensure the public can continue to access treatment when needed, expand prevention before disease worsens, develop local capacity, improve system efficiency, and safeguard the long-term sustainability of national health services.
Delays in maintenance work will lead to greater damage and directly impact the level of optimal services provided to patients. A lack of investment in training and expertise will result in continued reliance on external resources. If prevention and screening are not strengthened, future treatment costs will increase significantly. Likewise, if system reform is delayed, inefficiencies will persist, burdening staff and causing inconvenience to patients. Therefore, sustainability in the medical system is not merely about saving money. It’s about putting funds in the right place, at the right time, in ways that truly make an impact.
He reaffirmed that the budget requested by the Ministry of Health for 2026/2027 aims to ensure people continue to enjoy high-quality, safe, and continuous healthcare services, as well as to enhance the medical system’s ability to meet current and future challenges.
The Ministry of Health has now officially classified obesity as one of Brunei's non-communicable diseases.
This move is significant because obesity is no longer simply a lifestyle issue. It is a major risk factor for diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, hypertension, stroke, and various cancers—all of which impose tremendous pressure on both people's health and national finances.
From a financial perspective, studies show that in 2019, obesity cost Brunei an estimated US$132 million, equivalent to 1% of GDP. If more effective measures are not taken, this is expected to rise to 2.2% of GDP by 2035.
This means that without strengthened early intervention, the nation will continue to bear even greater costs—spending on diabetes treatment, heart disease, stroke, kidney failure, productivity losses, and other preventable complications.
Besides establishing an Obesity Taskforce in 2024, the Ministry of Health has also taken a historic step by strengthening the nation's capacity to address obesity, becoming the first WHO member state in the world to pioneer implementation of the WHO Chronic Obesity Care Curriculum through a Primary Health Care (PHC) model.
Obesity management is and will continue to be strengthened in a more systematic, evidence-based manner that meets current healthcare system needs. In addition, the International Conference on Non-Communicable Diseases scheduled for October 2025 has yielded encouraging results, with an expected attendance of 26,000. This conference not only consolidates Brunei’s position on the international non-communicable disease agenda, but also opens up opportunities for the country to leverage knowledge networks, share best practices, and establish technical cooperation to support implementation of new policies for non-communicable disease management.
Furthermore, mental health issues are a challenge for public health, with increasing attention being paid both worldwide and in Brunei.
According to the World Health Organization, nearly a billion people worldwide suffer from mental disorders.
In Brunei, the number of people receiving mental health treatment in 2024 increased by 17% compared to the previous year. The Adult Psychiatry Department at BSB Central Hospital receives about 35-49 new cases and about 800 follow-up cases each month, while the Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Department receives about 10 new cases and 50 follow-up cases per month. The psychology department receives an average of 500-600 new cases per month.
To address this, the Ministry of Health has implemented the Mental Health Action Plan 2022-2025, and as of the end of 2025, 28 out of 32 key initiatives of the plan have already been put in place. In addition, 229 community outreach programs have been conducted to raise public awareness and knowledge of mental health, including basic mental health training courses for community leaders (especially village heads and zone leaders from the four districts). The introduction of this course benefited from close collaboration between the Ministry of Health and other important stakeholders, including the Ministry of Home Affairs, the Ministry of Religious Affairs (especially the Counselling and Religious Understanding Unit and the Islamic Da'wah Centre), with support from Sultan Sharif Ali Islamic University (UNISSA).
This helps to eliminate discrimination against people with mental health issues or illnesses and strengthens early support at the community level. God willing, these efforts will continue and be further reinforced in the near future through Mental Health Action Plan 2.0, thus strengthening the direction of national mental health policy and strategies.
Dato Isham also emphasized in Parliament that another important priority supporting system sustainability is digital transformation.
“In the health sector, digitalization is not just about system modernization. It also concerns workflow efficiency, data integration, reduction of repetitive work, resource management, and patient experience. The Bru-HIMS 2.0 system is scheduled for implementation in October 2026, with pilot tests at the BSB Central Hospital. This system is expected to enhance system stability, data integration, and cybersecurity, helping medical services to operate in a more organized and efficient manner. For this, the Ministry hopes the public will cooperate, understand, and be patient during the initial phase of the new system rollout, as significant improvements usually require some adjustment time before all parties can fully appreciate the benefits.
Similarly, the use of the BruHealth app for appointments and queuing systems in multiple health institutions is also the case.
Operationally, such initiatives may seem minor but are in fact far-reaching. They help to relieve congestion at medical institutions, improve time management, enhance patient convenience, and support more effective use of resources. In the long run, a more integrated system will help the Ministry of Health more accurately plan allocation of funds and manpower.
He also pointed out that the busyness of some hospitals and medical institutions is partly due to some patients with less severe conditions who could receive early treatment through proper guidance. Therefore, public health literacy will continue to be strengthened, and plans are in place to introduce AI technology in the BruHealth system in the third quarter of 2026 to help the public get early guidance and make more suitable decisions before heading to a medical facility. This approach is expected to support more organized, efficient, and effective use of healthcare services.
“From a governance perspective, strengthening a more orderly, secure, and reliable data ecosystem is also critical. More accurate data helps better resource allocation planning, prevents over- or under-resourcing, enables monitoring of resource usage, and supports more evidence-based decision making. In the context of constantly rising costs, such efficiency is not to be taken for granted, as systemic weaknesses ultimately cause loss of time and money and lower the quality of public service.”
He stated that over BND11,000,000 in progressive spending has already been allocated to support health infrastructure and assets. This includes building maintenance, purchase and leasing of old medical assets, and related upgrading works. Such practices are crucial because early maintenance of assets is more beneficial and economical than waiting for damage to worsen and incurring higher repair costs. Projects receiving continuous attention include upgrades to BSB Central Hospital; construction of the new wing at Raja Isteri Pengiran Anak Saleha Hospital; construction of Mengkubau Health Centre; construction of BSB Health Centre; and construction of the new Reference Laboratory building. These projects are not only vital for meeting current demands, but also for strengthening the national health system's capacity in the long run.
In terms of strengthening emergency services, the Ministry of Health has also added seven new ambulances, including two intensive care ambulances equipped with negative pressure systems and five four-wheel drive ambulances. This is a highly practical measure, as the ability to respond swiftly and effectively to emergencies directly affects patient safety—especially for those in critical condition, in remote areas, or facing particular and challenging situations.
From a public health preparedness perspective, international recognition of the country's laboratory capabilities is also crucial. The National Virology Laboratory has received World Health Organization recognition. The Reference Laboratory, serving as the National Influenza Centre and National Virology Reference Laboratory, has also been certified by WHO as a National Measles and Rubella Laboratory. These certifications enhance the country's readiness to deal with epidemic threats and provide access to technical support, expert training, and global epidemiological information.
While easing pressure on the public system, the Ministry continues to strengthen cooperation with the private sector in a prudent manner. The increase in private clinics shows that the sector is also developing and can help relieve pressure on government institutions in certain suitable areas. By 2025, there will be 62 private medical clinics and 9 private dental clinics nationwide, up from 35 medical clinics and 3 dental clinics five years ago.
Models such as Public-Private Partnerships (PPP) and projects such as kidney dialysis services demonstrate that cooperation with the private sector helps maintain critical services without entirely burdening the public budget. Such models should continue to be implemented in an orderly manner.
The government still bears the foremost responsibility of ensuring all citizens' access to essential and critical services. However, good cooperation with the private sector in appropriate areas helps improve service efficiency, expand choices, and allow public resources to be more concentrated on areas most in need of government-subsidized support.
At the international and regional levels, Brunei actively participates in the work of the WHO and ASEAN, continuously bringing tangible benefits to the country—especially in obtaining technical support, sharing best practices, strengthening public health preparedness, and formulating more evidence-based policies.
In this regard, Brunei's role as a member of the Executive Board of WHO is vital, as it gives the country an opportunity to shape global health development while ensuring Brunei’s interests are reflected in every technical and policy discussion. In addition, this year Brunei will again chair the ASEAN Health Cluster 3 meeting to formulate the 2026-2030 work plan. This role is critical for strengthening regional collaboration and building a more resilient health system to meet current needs, including strengthening health systems through human resources, financing, and policymaking to ensure Universal Health Coverage (UHC) by 2030; increasing access to essential medicines, vaccines, and traditional/complementary medicine to improve service and medication access; promoting innovation and technology to further digital health technology, and strengthening Health Technology Assessment (HTA) to support evidence-based decisions; and ensuring equitable healthcare for vulnerable groups (women, children, and migrant workers).
Taking all these matters into account, it is clear the Ministry of Health’s allocation is not just to pay annual operating expenses. The budget aims to ensure the public can continue to access treatment when needed, expand prevention before disease worsens, develop local capacity, improve system efficiency, and safeguard the long-term sustainability of national health services.
Delays in maintenance work will lead to greater damage and directly impact the level of optimal services provided to patients. A lack of investment in training and expertise will result in continued reliance on external resources. If prevention and screening are not strengthened, future treatment costs will increase significantly. Likewise, if system reform is delayed, inefficiencies will persist, burdening staff and causing inconvenience to patients. Therefore, sustainability in the medical system is not merely about saving money. It’s about putting funds in the right place, at the right time, in ways that truly make an impact.
He reaffirmed that the budget requested by the Ministry of Health for 2026/2027 aims to ensure people continue to enjoy high-quality, safe, and continuous healthcare services, as well as to enhance the medical system’s ability to meet current and future challenges.