The key public health concern addressed by NEHAP Malaysia's Thematic Working Group 6 (TWG6) for Health Impact Assessment (HIA) is the prevention of unforeseen negative health consequences arising from major development projects that proceed without adequate upfront health evaluation.
Failure to conduct HIA can lead to health risks through environmental degradation, such as air and water contamination causing respiratory illnesses or waterborne diseases, and through socio-economic disruption, including mental stress, injuries, and reduced health equity due to displacement, noise, and traffic.
TWG6's core function is therefore to standardize and mandate the HIA process to proactively identify, assess, and recommend mitigation measures for these potential negative impacts before implementation, thereby ensuring that development projects are sustainable and contribute positively to the health and well-being of the Malaysian population.