April , 2021 | The Health

digital age , Dr Asma emphasised the need for resilient and agile measures and policies to be put in place .

“ We need an agile and adaptive law , regulation and policies , with advancements such as artificial intelligence , blockchain and so on ,” said Dr Asma .

“ The medical acts , laws and regulation in the country have got to keep up with these advancements in technology .”

She also said there was a need to know what ’ s going on in the country in real-time and track and predict what was going to happen .

“ So , it is crucial for us now to set up a robust , solid surveillance system that basically enables people to detect these pathogens , organisms or viruses as they come in real-time .

“ More importantly , it is important to make these data and information available for equitable sharing to scientists , researchers in the country and to the public and private sectors for research and development ( R & D ) and innovations .”

Preparedness is key

Presenting on building local capacity and the local research and development capacity , Leonard Ariff stated : “ In terms of technology transfer , it is important to look and see what

technologies are available . We should try to get access to some of that technology and build on it , rather than trying to establish everything from scratch .”

Duopharma Biotech , he shared , became the first pharmaceuticals company in Malaysia to conduct a full-scale biologic clinical trial in Malaysia for erythropoietin ( EPO ) production .

“ We started off with an equity investment with a Korean company to fast track the technology transfer and then went into a joint clinical trial , which we funded . We then started selling the finished product , imported from Korea , in Malaysia .

“ The next step we took was to actually establish a fill-and-finish facility , the first of its kind in Malaysia . We then imported the drug substance from Korea , to be filled in Malaysia .”

He also noted there was a considerable effort by the MoH . “ They assisted greatly in ensuring that we didn ’ t make any mistakes as well as taking the risk in ensuring that some of these products could be localised to Malaysia over time .”

In terms of the pandemic , he said : “ We need to accept that this will continue to happen . So , preparedness is key .”

He , however , noted while it was extremely tempting to put out facilities

A Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the Malaysian government and Islamic Development Bank ( IsDB ) on March 25 , 2021 to transform the IsDB Regional Office in Kuala Lumpur ( ROKL ) into a Centre of Excellence ( CoE ).

It will promote cooperation on Islamic finance , halal initiatives and eco-system , science technology and innovation ( STI ) and reverse linkage and resource mobilisation .

The IsDB was represented by Group President Dr Bandar Hajjar while Minister of Finance Tengku Datuk Zafrul Aziz signed on Malaysia ’ s behalf .

Dr Hayat Sindi , Senior Advisor to the President on STI and Supervisor , Communities Outreach Division , delivered the welcome remarks for the virtual launching ceremony featuring high-level representatives from Malaysia ’ s STI and health sectors , and global experts .

Dr Hajjar , who inaugurated the event , said most IsDB member countries continued to face challenges during the Covid-19 pandemic . The IsDB had offered its member countries a US $ 2.3 billion response package and financing facility called the Strategic Preparedness and Response Program ( SPRP ), based on ‘ 3 Rs ’ - Respond , Restore and Restart .

In this regard , Dr Hayat noted that all relevant actors should work together to fund , design , and deliver solutions , particularly in developing science and technologybased solutions to

Tengku Zafrul strengthen IsDB member countries ’ health capacity , with a particular focus on combating Covid-19 .

Tengku Zafrul in his keynote address said , Malaysia remained committed to working closely with the IsDB in the development of the country ’ s economy towards achieving inclusive and sustainable development .

“ Prior to this , we had focused on four pillars of cooperation , namely Islamic Finance ; Halal Industry ; Reverse Linkage ; and Resource Mobilisation .

“ The transformation of the ROKL into a CoE sees the addition of the Science , Technology and Innovation pillar as well as a more comprehensive Halal pillar , which now involves Halal Initiatives and Eco-System .

“ This marks a new chapter in our relationship with the IsDB , allowing us to further strengthen our strategic partnership for development .

“ It is our mutual vision for the CoE to be a gateway between Malaysia and member countries in exchanging information , particularly in these five identified areas ,” he said .

A gateway platform was also launched , bringing together all the stakeholders comprising solution providers , solution seekers , investors and investees as one community , using the power and the benefits of IsDB ENGAGE platform .

The ceremony also witnessed the launch of the E-gateway digital platform bringing together stakeholders comprising solution providers , solution seekers , investors and investees in one community , using the power and the benefits of IsDB ENGAGE platform .

globally , in response to pandemic preparedness , it came with the price of multiple white elephants all over the world after the pandemic passes .

“ I think governments and private companies will have to go in with eyes open and figure out unique types of financing models that allow these facilities to continue being able to operate even when we don ’ t have a pandemic .” — The Health