28 July 2026 | The Palace Hotel, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah
The Malaysian Association for the Prevention of Tuberculosis (MAPTB) was proudly represented by its President, Tn. Hj. Masdah Enti, at the AMASSMENT Dissemination and Policy Dialogue Workshop, held on 28 July 2026 at The Palace Hotel, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah. The workshop was organised by the Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Malaya, under the RESPIRE Global programme, bringing together policymakers, researchers, healthcare professionals, public health experts and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to strengthen the diagnosis and management of smear-negative pulmonary tuberculosis (SNPTB). MAPTB participated following an official invitation extended to the Association.
The AMASSMENT project focuses on improving the diagnosis of smear-negative pulmonary tuberculosis through the development and validation of an evidence-based clinical algorithm. During the workshop, participants were introduced to the project’s research findings and discussed how the algorithm could be integrated into existing tuberculosis clinical pathways to support earlier diagnosis, reduce missed cases, and improve patient outcomes.
One of the key sessions was delivered by Associate Professor Dr Wong Chee Kuan from Universiti Malaya, who presented the development, validation, and application of the AMASSMENT Clinical Algorithm. Experts from the Sabah State Health Department and frontline healthcare professionals also shared valuable insights into the real-world challenges of diagnosing smear-negative TB, particularly in rural communities, migrant populations, and resource-limited healthcare settings.
The programme highlighted several important issues affecting TB control, including:
*Challenges in diagnosing smear-negative pulmonary tuberculosis.
*The importance of active case finding and systematic screening.
*Strengthening contact investigation and community engagement.
*Improving access to healthcare for vulnerable and high-risk populations.
*Addressing operational barriers faced by primary healthcare providers.
*Enhancing collaboration between researchers, healthcare professionals, policymakers, and community organizations.
MAPTB extends its sincere appreciation to the Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Malaya and the RESPIRE Global research team for the invitation and for organising this meaningful national policy dialogue, which serves as an important platform for collaboration, knowledge sharing and advancing tuberculosis care in Malaysia.
