KPJ Healthcare, Novo Nordisk partner to advance structured obesity care
April 14, 2026
Second from left: Dr Praful Chakkarwar, General Manager of Novo Nordisk, with first from right: Chin Keat Chyuan, President and Managing Director of KPJ Healthcare, at the Memorandum of Understanding signing ceremony commemorating the partnership between KPJ Healthcare and Novo Nordisk.
KPJ Healthcare Berhad and Novo Nordisk Malaysia today formalized a strategic collaboration through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen structured, multi-disciplinary care, reflecting growing demand for a safer, more coordinated and medically supervised support for people living with obesity and related metabolic conditions.
The collaboration will support the development of the KPJ Metabolic & Weight Management Program, a hospital-based care model designed to provide patients with a structured, specialist-led, multidisciplinary care within a regulated healthcare setting. Health Ministry data from recent screenings involving 1.2 million adults nationwide found that 1:2 Malaysians are living with obesity or overweight, highlighting the scale and urgency of the issue. The ministry has also said that 15.6% adults, about one in six, are living with diabetes, with many unaware of their condition. Obesity is also estimated to cost the country more than RM64 billion annually through healthcare expenditure, productivity losses and premature mortality. Under the collaboration, both parties will work together to support a more comprehensive care pathway that combines specialist consultation, dietetic support, lifestyle guidance and clinically appropriate medical therapy. In the first phase, the program is expected to be introduced at 10 KPJ hospitals, namely Ampang Puteri Specialist Hospital, Damansara Specialist Hospital, Damansara 2 Specialist Hospital, Ipoh Specialist Hospital, Johor Specialist Hospital, KPJ Klang Specialist Hospital, KPJ Penang Specialist Hospital, KPJ Selangor Specialist Hospital, Kuching Specialist Hospital and Tawakkal Specialist Hospital, with phased expansion planned for 12 months. Patients are expected to access the program through hospital health screening pathway and in-hospital referrals. The program will bring together health screening and allied health professionals, including endocrinology, internal medicine, bariatric surgery, psychology, physiotherapy, rehabilitation, dietetics, and pharmacy, under a more structured model of care. Patient care in this pathway includes initial assessment, body composition screening, metabolic risk review, personalized treatment planning, behavioral counselling, and follow-up scheduling, with a typical care duration of up to 6 months depending on individual clinical needs. In addition to patient care, the collaboration will also explore clinical education and responsible communication on obesity management, including the appropriate use of GLP-1-based therapies in regulated healthcare settings. This may include CME sessions and educational social media contents. |
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