Pushing the boundaries of science |
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principles , taking such medicine is permissible and can become obligatory , depending on the situation .”
Hence , when Duopharma began the journey into halal pharmaceutical , they started with conducting awareness activities and capacity development programmes for stakeholders to understand how halal is applied to pharmaceutical products .
Halal pharmaceutical awareness efforts
Siti Sa ' diah sees Duopharma as a Halal Pharmaceutical Centre of Excellence for all stakeholders , including vendors and suppliers , universities , government agencies , healthcare practitioners from private and public hospitals .
“ We proactively organise and conduct halal awareness and knowledge sharing programmes for and with our stakeholders .
Apart from workshops , seminars and webinars , Duopharma also organises a bi-annual key event , the Halal Pharmaceutical Symposium ( HPS ).
HPS is a platform of intellectual discourse on current and future developments surrounding halal pharmaceuticals .
Past partners of HPS include Halal Development Corporation , Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia , JAKIM , Malaysian Pharmacists Society ( MPS ), Standards Malaysia , Ministry of Defence Malaysia ( MinDef ) and Institute of Islamic Understanding Malaysia ( IKIM ).
Duopharma has also launched a digital platform , “ halal4pharma . com ”, as a reference site for consumers and the public to enhance their understanding of halal pharmaceuticals .
She added : “ Recently , we sponsored a programme that focused on knowledge sharing to the public via Facebook and YouTube page ‘ Ustaz Amri Halal ’ ( UAH FBLive ), hosted by Ustaz Amri Abdullah .”
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We believe , with the approval of a SMIIC OIC standard on halal pharmaceuticals , there would be more concerted effort without the diverging ideologies or beliefs separating parties and move towards a positive and substantial acceptance globally .”
— Tan Sri Siti Sa ’ diah Sh Bakir
Ustaz Amri is attached to JAKIM and the host for the TV1 MyHALAL show . UAH FBLive was also organised in collaboration with the MPS .
Duopharma has developed a network of Key Opinion Leaders of Shariah and science backgrounds vital to enhance awareness and understanding of halal pharmaceuticals .
“ The key to ensuring universal acceptance of halal pharmaceuticals is a harmonised standard for halal pharma . It is not an easy feat to achieve this , but a necessary one .”
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Promoting and driving the sector
The Standards and Metrology Institute for Islamic Countries ( SMIIC ), the Standards Body for the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation ( OIC ) countries , is developing an OIC standard on halal pharmaceuticals .
“ The standard is a significant step for the halal pharmaceutical industry .”
Duopharma is part of the Malaysian delegation participating in the development of this standard .
“ We believe , with the approval of a SMIIC OIC standard on halal pharmaceuticals , there would be more concerted effort without the diverging ideologies or beliefs separating parties and move towards a positive and substantial acceptance globally . ”
“ The efforts are ongoing at SMIIC , and I certainly hope that the relevant Malaysian government agencies and all stakeholders will continue to lobby for halal pharmaceuticals to be universally accepted . Duopharma will continue to work towards this .”
Duopharma is also a member of HDC ’ s Sectoral Working Group ( SWG ) to drive the Halal Pharmaceutical Roadmap that describes the action plans and interventions to drive growth to the sector . Duopharma has also established a capacity development programme called “ Duopharma Biotech Halal Pharmapreneur ” ( DBHP ).
“ It is a soft-skill development programme to enhance Community Pharmacists entrepreneurship capabilities and aligning business practices with Shariah principles .
“ We started this programme in 2017 with the Malaysian Productivity Corporation ( MPC ), Center for Entrepreneur Development and Research ( CEDAR ) of SME Bank and Koperasi Farmasi Muslim ( Muslim Pharmacist Cooperatives ).
“ We have also established collaborations with academia such as USM , UKM , and UiTM on developing entrepreneurial skills with undergraduate pharmacy students .” – Xtra
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BIOLOGICS IS the next frontier of pharmaceuticals , said Tan Sri Siti Sa ’ diah Sh Bakir , Non- Independent , Non-Executive Chairman of Duopharma Biotech Berhad .
The biologics market was approximately US $ 302.63 billion in 2020 and is expected to reach US $ 509.23 billion by 2026 , registering a CAGR of 9.06 per cent during the forecast period , 2021- 2026 .
“ If there are halal options , this is a matter of research and desire to push the boundaries of science in the context of halal biologics ,” said Siti Sa ’ diah .
“ It would undoubtedly ease key opinion leaders , clinicians and patients ’ minds as they become more confident to adhere to doctors ’ advice on medicine consumption and the fact that the halal component they demand is checked .
“ The MS 2424:2019 is revised and updated on the requirements for producing a halal vaccine . The new addition in terms of vaccines requirements can be applied to halal biologics .
“ However , for the vaccine to be halal certified , the manufacturer would still need to fulfil the requirements prescribed by the Halal Certification Body .”
According to her , Duopharma closely refers and adheres to the MS 2424 in their vaccines and biologics projects .
However , she noted that in obtaining halal certification , there were still components of the starting materials , particularly cell line technology , that needed to be clarified by JAKIM or Shariah scholars on the halal perspectives .
“ The Shariah and science scholars must be objective in studying and determining the halal status of vaccines and biologics starting materials .
“ It is a delicate and crucial process that would be a gamechanger to the future of halal pharmaceuticals if we get it right . “ The trick is to ensure that we do not lose sight of ensuring the balance of shariah , science , and to capture and address the demand for halal pharmaceuticals , biologics , and so on . It is our duty to do so .”
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