Sarawak to have disease test, treatment centre

Star: KUCHING: Malaysia will be able to conduct early phase testing of new disease treatments when its first dedicated facility is operational at the Sarawak Hospital here in two years' time.
Health Ministry director-general Tan Sri Dr Ismail Merican said there was now no such facility in the country for pharmaceutical companies or researchers to conduct early phase clinical trials.
The proposed state-of-the-art facility, to be housed in the new clinical research centre (CRC) in the hospital’s extension block, will be equipped to support both in-patient and out-patient treatments.
Dr Ismail, who laid the foundation stone for the proposed RM29mil facility yesterday, said Sarawak was spearheading the drive to promote Malaysia as a regional clinical hub.
He said the country did not want to lose out to Singapore and Thailand in attracting international experts.
He said the CRC, headed by the hospital’s head of cardiology Dr Sim Kui Hian, would focus on cardiology research.
He said similar dedicated facilities had been planned for Penang, Johor and Sabah.