MAY-JUNE. 2020 | Glam Halal
Health
25
Launching the symposium is Dato' Mahmud. Looking on is Prof Dato' Dr Imran.
UNIVERSITI Kebangsaan Malaysia
(UKM) through its Halal Pharmaceutical
Business Initiatives
(HPBI-UKM) in collaboration
with Duopharma Biotech Berhad
organised the ‘Halal Pharmaceutical
Symposium 2020’ on Feb 25, 2020. The
symposium was launched by Chairman of
Halal Development Corporation (HDC) Dato’
Mahmud Abbas, Chairman of Halal Development
Corporation (HDC).
The symposium, with its theme “Fostering
a Vibrant Halal Pharmaceutical
Research and Academic Community” was
to generate more research community and
academicians on halal pharmaceuticals.
This is in line with their agreement on strategic
collaboration for research partnership
signed last year.
Duopharma is the first pharmaceutical
company in Malaysia to obtain Halal Certification
for Prescriptive Medicines based
on the world’s first halal pharmaceutical
standard, the MS2424. HPBI-UKM embodies
UKM Graduate School of Business (GSB),
the Faculty of Pharmacy (FFar), Faculty of
Islamic Studies (FPI), UKM-UNIOEQ and
Faculty of Science and Technology (FST).
These forms of collaboration between
universities and industries is line with a
call made by the Ministry of Education to
achieve a greater educational and technological
development, skill development as
well as management skills.
According to the Deputy Vice-Chancellor
of Industry and Community Partnerships
of Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Prof
Dato’ Dr Imran Ho Abdullah, there were
four research projects conducted, led by
lecturers from GSB, FFar, FPI and FST. The
research projects are fully funded through
research grants provided by Duopharma
totaling RM130,000.
“I believe the implications of these
four research projects is important to
the government especially the Ministry
of Health (MOH) Islamic enforcement
agencies, hospitals, clinics, pharmacies,
Pumping up
more halal pharmaceutical research
New innovations are needed for better optimisation of
the halal value chain through collaborative events
and also enhance the guidelines on halal
medicines,” he added.
The image of the halal pharmaceutical
industry needs to be potrayed with care
because the management of the halal value
chain is increasingly critical. New innovations
are needed for better optimization of
halal value chains through collaborative
events with various parties.
Mahmud said, “At the moment, Malaysia’s
contribution to the islamic global
economy is only 0.47 per cent. Our contribution
is a drop in the ocean. The growth of the
halal pharmaceutical industry worldwide
is huge. Its potential value of development
Dato' Mahmud (middle)
and Prof Dato' Dr Imran
(left).
At the moment,
Malaysia’s
contribution
to the Islamic
global economy
is only 0.47 per cent.”
— Mahmud Abbas
is wide. When we look through the Islamic
Global Economy Report 2018/2019, the
expenditure on pharmaceutical products by
Muslims in 2018 was up to US$92 billion. By
2024, the numbers are estimated to increase
to US$134 billion.”
The potential of the halal pharmaceutical
is huge, but there is more work to be
done by Malaysia. “Through this symposium,
we will ensure there is a complete
dissemination of information on the
strategic development of the halal pharmaceutical
industry. Major issues in halal
value chain will also be put forth in order
to have continuous improvements,” he said.
UKM and Duopharma are hoping the
Halal Pharmaceutical Symposium 2020 will
be a great contribution to the halal pharmaceutical
industry in the country and be a
small step towards bigger collaborations.