A new collaborative initiative is making stroke prevention more accessible and affordable in Malaysia. Alpro Pharmacy, Sandoz Malaysia and digital health platform Doc2Us launched ACCESS360 this week, an integrated programme designed to help patients manage their stroke risk through community pharmacies, digital health tools and patient education.
The initiative, built around the theme of "Affordable Treatment. Access to Healthcare Professionals. Continuous Care," aims to ensure patients are supported not only when they visit a doctor or hospital but throughout their healthcare journey.
Stroke: A Growing Burden in Malaysia
Stroke remains one of Malaysia's leading causes of death and disability, with more than 40,000 hospital admissions recorded annually. According to the Clinical Practice Guidelines on the Management of Ischaemic Stroke, approximately 26.4% to 30% of stroke survivors may experience a recurrent stroke within five years.
The burden extends beyond immediate mortality. Stroke is the third leading cause of death in Malaysia, accounting for 7.2% of total deaths in 2023, after ischaemic heart disease and pneumonia.
Atrial fibrillation, a heart rhythm disorder that frequently causes no symptoms, is a significant hidden contributor to stroke risk, estimated to be behind 15% to 25% of all strokes in Malaysia.
A Connected Patient Support Ecosystem
ACCESS360 leverages Alpro Pharmacy's nationwide network of more than 300 community pharmacies and over 1,000 healthcare professionals, Sandoz's expertise in affordable medicines, and Doc2Us' digital healthcare capabilities.
At the heart of the programme is the ACCESS360 Stroke Prevention Digital Health Education Platform, which provides easy-to-understand information on stroke risk factors, prevention, medication adherence, lifestyle modifications and long-term care.
Through Alpro's telehealth service, patients and caregivers can connect with pharmacists for personalised guidance on their health concerns and medications. When further medical assessment is appropriate, they can be referred for an online doctor consultation through Doc2Us.
For individuals newly identified as being at higher risk of stroke, the initiative provides a trusted starting point to understand their risk and where to seek help. For patients already receiving preventive treatment, it provides additional support to stay adherent and manage their health over time. For stroke survivors and caregivers, it provides an accessible point of support beyond hospital discharge.
The programme was developed to address practical barriers patients face, including the cost of long-term treatment, adherence challenges, and lack of convenient access to healthcare professionals when advice is needed.
A Shift from "Sick Care" to Prevention
The initiative aligns with a broader push by the Malaysian government to shift the healthcare system away from a "sick care" approach, where patients seek help only after becoming ill, toward upstream prevention.
Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad recently warned that non-communicable diseases (NCDs), including stroke, heart disease and cancer, kill nearly 98,000 people annually and cost the Malaysian economy RM64 billion every year. Out of that total, RM12.4 billion goes toward medical treatments, while RM51.4 billion is lost to reduced workplace productivity, absenteeism and premature deaths.
Dr Hartini Mohd Yusof, a triple-specialist in Cardiology, Electrophysiology and Internal Medicine, has noted that atrial fibrillation — which increases stroke risk by up to five times — often goes undetected because up to 40% of individuals with the condition are asymptomatic. "Without detection and treatment, these individuals remain at significant risk, with stroke sometimes being their very first presentation," she said.
Once AF is diagnosed, treatment is effective. Oral anticoagulants, commonly known as blood thinners, remain the cornerstone of stroke prevention, reducing risk by 60 to 70 percent.