MAY , 2023 | THE HEALTH

Luye Pharma is dedicated to research & development ( R & D ), manufacturing and sale of innovative medications . The partnership grants the Duopharma Biotech exclusive marketing and distribution rights to Luye Pharma ’ s cholesterol management product in Malaysia .

The product is a traditional Chinese medicine made by using modern technology to ferment special red yeast rice , a natural alternative for cholesterol management .

Through this partnership , Luye Pharma will be able to leverage Duopharma Biotech ’ s long-term expertise in the cardiovascular therapeutic field , both in terms of

BUKIT Tinggi Medical Centre ( BTMC ), a tertiary care hospital in Malaysia , has been making a significant difference through its commitment to educating the public and raising awareness on health matters including autism .

To further support the awareness of autism , BTMC launched the “ Art of Giving ” initiative and established an art gallery to showcase the unique talents of children with autism while raising funds for The National Autism Society of Malaysia ( NASOM ).

Over the past decade , the number of diagnoses of autism spectrum disorder ( ASD ) in Malaysia has steadily increased . In 2021 alone , 589 children aged 18 and below were diagnosed with ASD , a five per cent increase from the 562 children diagnosed in 2020 .

BTMC Director of Medical Service , Dr Priscila Rajah , said : “ We are constantly looking towards expanding into a holistic children ’ s development centre that can offer

its excellent promotion in academic and extensive distribution network throughout clinics and hospitals , further expanding the accessibility of the product in Malaysia .

The two companies expect that the product will grow at a compound annual growth rate of double digits in the local market over the next 10 years .

“ This partnership and collaboration with Luye Pharma enables all patients in Malaysia to have choices in the therapies and medications they need for their

various health needs including children with autism . Our goal is to provide a comprehensive approach to healthcare , ensuring that children have access to the best possible care .

“ For us , ‘ people caring for people ’ is not just a philosophy but a way of life . Each stride we take is dedicated to creating a remarkable impact on the world , one that resonates with the community for generations to come .”

The art gallery at BTMC is a unique initiative to support NASOM , featuring 42 pieces of art created by autistic individuals aged 17 to 29 years old . To date , 10 paintings have been sold , with a total collection of RM5,990 .

Julian Wong , Chairman of NASOM said : “ The partnership between Bukit Tinggi Medical Centre and NASOM is a remarkable well-being ,” said Leonard Ariff Abdul Shatar , Group Managing Director , Duopharma Biotech Berhad .

Andy Siow , APAC Regional Director of Luye Pharma ( International ) said : “ The product ’ s efficacy has been widely recognised by doctors and patients over long-term clinical use in Malaysia . The partnership with Duopharma Biotech will enable this highly trusted and naturally produced traditional Chinese medicine to reach more patients in need .”

From L to R : Andy Jones , Group Chief Growth Officer , Ramsay Health Care , Jasmine Lau , Hospital CEO , Bukit Tinggi Medical Centre , Julian Wong , Chairman of NASOM , Siti Mariyam , General Manager of NASOM , and Peter Ho .

example of how two organisations can collaborate towards a common goal of providing unparalleled care and support for individuals with autism .

“ We stand as a ray of hope , illuminating the path towards a brighter future for every affected family . Let us champion and celebrate the exceptional talents of these individuals , as we empower and uplift them with unwavering commitment .”

At the launch ceremony , three top artists were presented with a mock cheque in recognition of their talent and dedication towards art , namely Husna Qisdeena Mohd Hatta who is 18 , Amira Daniea Saiful Amri , 17 and Pua Zhe Xuan , 29 . Additionally , Husna Qisdeena hosted a portrait sketching session for the guests and media .

MALAYSIA ’ S largest prescription pharmacy chain , Alpro Pharmacy , and ASEAN ’ s leading Managed Care Organisation , MiCare , announced that their Corporate Disease Management Programme ( CDMP ) has recorded an accumulated RM8 million in savings on medication costs for MiCare ’ s corporate members including several top multinational companies across Malaysia in the short span of two years .

Moses Hee , MiCare ’ s Group CEO , stated : “ We chose to partner with Alpro Pharmacy to serve our over 10 million members as it enables us to fulfil our vision of making healthcare more affordable and accessible , by helping insurers , corporates , employers , and individuals better manage their healthcare costs despite increasing medical inflation and administration complexity .

“ Taking a holistic perspective , our collaboration does not stop at providing medication ; we also actively implement different Corporate Disease Management Programmes to help corporates improve health outcomes . Our panel GP clinics are also important partners in achieving our stated vision and with their support we have witnessed optimisation of healthcare services .”

One of the programmes under the CDMP provided by Alpro to MiCare ’ s corporate members is the Corporate Panel Pharmacy Service , which provides an additional layer of intervention or crosschecking by a pharmacist to review the prescriptions from the clinic before dispensing them to the corporate user .

Commenting on the impact of the Corporate Panel Pharmacy Service , Ph . Low Swee Siong , Alpro Pharmacy ’ s CEO said : “ As pharmacists , we are the guardians of medication , and it is our duty to ensure medication safety . With the involvement of a pharmacist , coupled with innovation and technology , including telemedicine and PILcube for personalised medication packaging , we managed to generate substantial cost-savings for our users .

Alpro is totally aligned with MiCare ’ s stand on not practising any “ fee split ” with medical providers . In our strategic partnership with MiCare , there is no unnecessary transactional charges imposed on medical providers . This has resulted in tremendous cost savings to MiCare ’ s corporate customers , and has definitely made our collaboration with MiCare more meaningful .”

According to Alpro ’ s dispensing records , the top three diagnoses amongst the corporate workforce are High Blood Pressure , Dyslipidemia ( High Cholesterol ) and Diabetes . These and other noncommunicable diseases ( NCDs ) were estimated to cost RM8.91 billion annually from productivity losses due to absenteeism , presenteeism in the workplace , and the premature death of the working age population in Malaysia .

Galderma , the pure-play dermatology company , announced a change in its marketing operations to better serve the healthcare community in Malaysia .

Through this development , the company has established its own team of marketing personnel , product specialists and brand representatives to engage with healthcare professionals and institutions directly . The transfer of commercial activities ( sales and marketing ) of the company from Zuellig Pharma Sdn Bhd has taken effect since January 2023 .

Galderma Malaysia Country Manager Cindy Tiu , said : “ Our goal is to continue supporting our strong growth trajectory with an enhanced focus that will significantly increase our ability to engage and better serve our healthcare community . This year , Galderma will be focusing on broadening engagement sessions with healthcare professionals that are thought leadership in nature and is backed with dermatology science . “ This expansion plan is in line with the company ’ s business strategy to consistently expand its synergistic portfolio of flagship brands , supported by science-based product differentiation and premium positioning to match consumer and patient needs with superior outcomes . At Galderma , we understand that our skin shapes our lives . We are advancing dermatology for every skin story .”– The Health