PUTRAJAYA: Newly appointed Health Minister Dr Zaliha Mustafa said she is open to any advice, suggestions, and guidance from former health ministers who could serve as references for her in running the Health Ministry.

As the first woman minister of the Ministry of Health (MoH), Dr Zaliha admitted that her biggest challenge after her appointment is to continue the ministry’s excellent work while strengthening the country’s health sector in general.

“I am very open to any kind of help in terms of suggestions or opinions on things that ministers have done before that have come out with policies or anything else,” she said.

“But as usual, as a new minister, I will get a briefing from the Ministry of Health officials and see which policies we can adopt, which ones need to be improved or which ones we should reject,” she told reporters at the ministry here yesterday.

Earlier, Dr Zaliha had arrived at the ministry’s compound at 8.30am and was greeted by ministry secretary-general Datuk Harjeet Singh, senior management officials and the ministry’s staff, before scanning her time card to symbolically clock in at her office.

Dr Zaliha, 58, also expressed enthusiasm and described her appointment as a recognition of raising the dignity of women as policymakers, especially in the field of health.

The Sekijang Member of Parliament, who has experience as a family health doctor, said she would focus on improving policies and health services for women and children.

“Women’s NGOs (nongovernmental organisations) and doctors have started calling me. This is challenging but also exciting for me. I will work on issues that affect women and children,” she said.