There is a high importance of behavioural sciences in improving healthcare and health system performance to reduce the prevalence of diseases in our community. The main hurdle in improving health systems is the need for personal nudges and data collection. In order to formulate personal nudges to change the way people live, trust, credibility and transparency are paramount. Moreover, clear communications and accessible and actionable information will lead to behavioural change. 

Through the COVID-19 pandemic in Malaysia, we have seen how the behavioural science-based approach in public health yields results. Therefore, we would like to understand and explore this approach further, while also considering the concomitant need for consensual data collection from the lens of behavioural insights.  

Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the usage of behavioural science has been an integral component of Malaysian authorities to control the virus, ensuring that people are healthy and minimising the burden on the health system. Evidence on what influences people’s actions is reflected in improving the design of health communications, programmes and ultimately policies, for better-informed decision-making.