Abstract

Malaysia’s healthcare system has undergone significant digital transformation, accelerated by the COVID‑19 pandemic and supported by long‑standing initiatives such as the Multimedia Super Corridor (MSC) and the MyDigital Blueprint. While Malaysia has been recognized by the World Health Organization (WHO) for its strong Electronic Medical Records (EMR) strategy, recent studies highlight a paradox: high levels of deployment maturity coexist with persistent challenges in integration, equity, and sustainability. A paradox occurs when two opposing truths exist simultaneously, creating a significant gap between policy ideals and operational reality. This scoping review synthesizes scientific publications from 2017 to 2025, examining healthcare digital transformation through the dimensions of People, Content, and Context. Using an eight‑level maturity model, Malaysia achieved advanced research maturity level of 7.5 driven by robust academic interest in precision medicine and artificial intelligence while operational practical lags behind at level 7 reflecting strong policy ambition but uneven implementation. To resolve this paradox, Malaysian policymakers and healthcare administrators must immediately shift focus from creating ambitious frameworks to enforcing uniform national deployment. This study contributes to the discourse on digital health by providing evidence‑based insights for policymakers and healthcare leaders to strengthen governance, infrastructure, and human capital, ensuring sustainable preparedness for the Fourth Industrial Revolution and beyond.