Malaysia signs health MOU with Singapore

The Star SINGAPORE: Malaysia has signed its first health sector Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the ministry of health in Singapore related to pharmaceutical regulatory matters.

Health Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai said that the MOU was a new milestone of cooperation between the health ministries as both Malaysia and Singapore face similar challenges in relation to the pharmaceutical field.

"With this collaboration, we will be able to achieve a win-win situation as we can combine resources eventually save cost and time," he said after witnessing the MOU signing ceremony at the Fullerton Hotel here on March 28.

The MOU was signed between the Ministry of Health's Pharmaceutical Services Division senior director Datuk Eisah A. Rahman and Health Sciences Authority (HSA) Singapore chief executive officer Associate Professor John Lim.

It was also witnessed by Singapore's Health Minister Gan Kim Yong.

Liow said that the MOU will enable both countries to share information on pharmaceutical regulatory matters and would include information related to safety issues.

"The sharing of information by both countries is vital to the public as this will include information on product recalls and other developments in the pharmaceutical sector.

"This will enable both countries to take appropriate and immediate action towards protecting and ensuring the safety of the people," he said adding that the MOU would also allow for joint evaluation and audits which would reduce time lines for pharmaceutical product registration for both countries.

"Other than that, we will also be able to cooperate by conducting mutual exchange of courses, seminars, attachment trainings, study visits and other related activities," he said.

Liow said that the MOU would also help strengthen enforcement especially related to illicit drugs and contraband products in both countries.

"Through the cooperation with Singapore we will be able to share information, track down and trace illicit drugs to ensure that the people from both countries will not receive such material," he said.

Liow added that Malaysia was looking forward to signing more such MOUs with Singapore and this could include areas related to public health and disease control in the near future.