Pharmaceutical Association of Malaysia

20/11/2025

At the Value-Based Healthcare (VBHC) Conference, Ms. Leyla Hernandez Donoso highlighted the growing importance of Real-World Evidence (RWE) in shaping healthcare decisions, especially across Asia.

🔎 What is RWE?
RWE is clinical evidence drawn from sources beyond traditional clinical trials — such as electronic health records, registries, insurance claims, and even wearable devices. It helps capture real-world outcomes, adherence, and broader population effects.

🌏 Why it matters for Asia
Asia has often been underrepresented in global trials, leading to evidence gaps for local populations. RWE offers the opportunity to bridge these gaps, ensuring healthcare decisions are more relevant, equitable, and reflective of local needs.

⚖️ Opportunities & challenges
✔️ Broader use in HTA, regulatory evaluations, and clinical practice
✔️ Supports patient-centered and outcomes-based decision-making
❗ Barriers include regulatory inconsistencies, data quality, costs, and technical hurdles
🚀 The future of RWE

Emerging tools like AI, digital health, and real-time databases are transforming evidence generation. With stronger collaboration, robust data governance, and patient engagement, RWE can unlock better access to innovation and strengthen healthcare systems across the region.

* Every Thursday, we feature the series to help you stay abreast of the innovator pharmaceutical sector in Malaysia. Follow for more!

17/11/2025

On 6 November 2025, PhAMA's Vice President and Chair of the Market Access Committee, Ms. Deepti Saraf, represented the organisation at the HTAi 2025 Asia Policy Forum in Penang, which gathered HTA agency representatives and global experts from 18 countries.

Themed “Societal Perspectives: Why It Should Matter,” the forum highlighted how value in healthcare goes beyond patients alone — impacting families, caregivers, and communities.

In her keynote presentation, “Inclusion of Broader Value Elements for the Evaluation of Innovative Medicines,” Deepti shared insights from PhAMA’s Vista Health Report 2025 and the BRAVER Report, highlighting how Asia’s HTA landscape is evolving to embrace societal value.

She emphasised the impact of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) on Malaysia’s economy and highlighted opportunities to achieve better health outcomes by embracing a broader perspective in health valuation.

The core societal impact sought is the shifting of ‘health cost’ into ‘health investment’. Innovative medicines should be recognized by governments as an investment, not a cost — a shift that requires both policy reform and political will.

For Malaysia, there was a meaningful exchange of dialogue on the importance of expanding beyond the payor’s perspective, and the opportunity to integrate societal perspectives into HTA decision-making.

This was followed by a panel discussion between Deepti and YB Datuk Seri Dr. Dzulkefly Ahmad, Minister of Health, on the importance of recognizing societal value in assessing health technologies.

The dialogue session explored how aspects of social value, equity, and legitimacy can be translated into policy and implementation, towards building a more inclusive and compassionate healthcare system. The honorable Minister added, "In the Ministry of Health (MOH), my focus is not merely to continue existing efforts, but to enhance governance and add value to the national health reform agenda.”

Two value elements were identified as a starting point for Malaysia’s journey toward broader value integration:
💼 Productivity loss
👨‍👩‍👧 Family spillover effects

The Vista Health Report 2025 suggested that qualitative approaches can serve as practical starting points for evaluating these broader value elements, while capacity building will be essential to strengthen Malaysia’s HTA ecosystem and ensure long-term sustainability.

PhAMA remains committed to advancing access to innovative medicines and fostering collaborative dialogue with policymakers and stakeholders — towards a future where every ringgit spent on health delivers value to patient outcomes and meaningful societal impact.

13/11/2025

Malaysia is blessed with a wealth of biodiversity with potential for development into therapeutic products that can serve mankind. The largest pool of biodiversity resides in Sarawak, which boasts over 60% of forested area.

On 24 October 2025, the PhAMA Board of Directors and Secretariat visited the Sarawak Biodiversity Centre (SBC) in Kuching to learn about SBC’s pioneering work in bioprospecting, traditional knowledge documentation, and the sustainable utilisation of Borneo’s diverse natural resources. The team also gained valuable insights into SBC’s initiatives to translate biodiversity research into innovations in healthcare, biotechnology, and drug discovery.

One of the key reasons for SBC's establishment in 1997 was to prevent the loss of traditional knowledge in indigenous communities, as the inter-generational knowledge is through verbal story-telling. SBC's programme trains local communities on the importance of documenting indigenous plants and their traditional usage.

The tour included visits to the different laboratories which screen and sequence plants and microbes for anti-cancer, anti-fungal, anti-bacterial, anti-inflammatory and anti-protease compounds with potential for medicinal and industrial applications.

SBC also contains an integrated database storage and maintenance system on biological resources in the state and traditional knowledge on growing indigenous plants.

PhAMA extends its heartfelt appreciation to the SBC team for their warm hospitality and insightful discussions.

The visit underscores PhAMA’s commitment to fostering collaborations that drive scientific innovation, promote sustainable practices, and strengthen Malaysia’s position within the regional healthcare and life sciences landscape.

Photos: https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjCzWSV

Ai Teng Kam | Pixie Yee | Sally Kuah | Deborah Seifert | Ayçın Oğuz | Logan Caragata | Li Jin Chan | Jessie Leow | Janice Law | Alice Chee | Yew Siu Hui | Britney Choo

13/11/2025

At PhAMA's Value-Based Healthcare (VBHC) Conference in July 2025, Saraf, Vice President of the Pharmaceutical Association of Malaysia, delivered a compelling presentation on the topic “From Value to Access: Integrating Societal Perspectives in Decision-Making.”

Her session emphasized Malaysia’s journey toward a more inclusive and patient-centered value-based healthcare system, highlighting the urgent need to move beyond traditional cost-effectiveness models and incorporate broader societal impacts into healthcare decisions.

Why this matters for Malaysia
🔹 NCDs like heart disease, diabetes, and cancer cost Malaysia RM64.2 billion (4.2% of GDP) in 2021 — with productivity losses alone at RM9 billion annually.
🔹 Indirect costs (productivity, caregiver burden, family impact) are 4x higher than direct healthcare spending, yet often overlooked in current models.
🔹 Rising multimorbidity (as shown in the 2023 NHMS) is amplifying risks for families, caregivers, and the economy.
Way Forward for Malaysia:
✅ Expand HTA frameworks to include societal perspectives like productivity loss and family spillover
✅ Invest in local data generation, real-world evidence, and capability building
✅ Pilot qualitative approaches in high-burden diseases
✅ Align with the National Policy on Quality in Healthcare (2022–2026), which calls for patient-centered, responsive, and innovative healthcare

By adopting a broader societal perspective, Malaysia can make better-informed healthcare decisions that reflect real-world impacts on patients, families, and the economy.

This shift is essential for aligning value-based healthcare with national health priorities and ensuring sustainable access to effective treatments for all Malaysians.

* Every Thursday, we feature the series to help you stay abreast of the innovator pharmaceutical sector in Malaysia. Follow for more!

12/11/2025

One of the key highlights at the PhAMA Board of Directors and Secretariat's technical visit to Kuching was a courtesy visit to the Clinical Research Centre (CRC) at Sarawak General Hospital on 24 October 2025.

Dr Alan Fong, Consultant Cardiologist at Sarawak Heart Centre, and Head of the Clinical Research Centre, Sarawak General Hospital (CRC SGH), provided an eye-opening experience into the centre’s advanced clinical research capabilities, including its facilities equipped to conduct First-in-Human (FIH) trials.

The discussions also underscored the important contributions of PhAMA member companies in advancing clinical research across Malaysia, particularly in supporting investigator-initiated studies, patient recruitment, and capacity-building efforts that strengthen the nation’s clinical research ecosystem.

PhAMA extends its sincere appreciation to Dr Alan Fong and the CRC team for their warm hospitality and insightful engagement. The visit reaffirms PhAMA’s commitment to fostering partnerships that drive innovation, uphold scientific excellence, and position Malaysia as a trusted hub for clinical research in the region.

Ai Teng Kam | Sally Kuah | Deborah Seifert | Ayçın Oğuz | Li Jin Chan | Jessie Leow | Janice Law | Alice Chee | Yew Siu Hui | Britney Choo

10/11/2025

The PhAMA Board of Directors and Secretariat conducted a Technical Visit to Kuching from 23-24 October 2025, with the first port-of-call at the office of YB Datuk Amar Prof. Dr Sim Kui Hian, Deputy Premier of Sarawak and Minister for Public Health, Housing and Local Government.

The discussion underscored Sarawak’s dynamic vision for the future, which encompasses capacity building, investment in green energy, and the value of public-private partnerships in advancing healthcare access thus driving long-term social and economic progress.

PhAMA extends its sincere appreciation to YB Datuk Amar Prof. Dr Sim Kui Hian for his hospitality and valuable sharings. The visit reinforces PhAMA and member companies' role as strategic partners in supporting Sarawak’s vision for sustainable progress, innovation, and improved societal well-being.

Ai Teng Kam | Pixie Yee | Sally Kuah | Deborah Seifert | LG (Louis-Georges) L. | Abdullahi Sheriff | Logan Caragata | Li Jin Chan | Jessie Leow | Janice Law | Alice Chee | Yew Siu Hui | Britney Choo

10/11/2025

On 28 October 2025, PhAMA representatives and joined the Pharmacy Programme Services, Ministry of Health Malaysia on a visit to Cenviro (Kualiti Alam Sdn. Bhd.)’s Waste Management Centre in Bukit Pelanduk, Negeri Sembilan, to witness firsthand the process of scheduled waste including medicines.

The visit provided valuable and insightful exposure to Malaysia’s leading hazardous waste management and treatment facility, showcasing the end-to-end process of pharmaceutical waste disposal.

Through this field visit, the team deepened its understanding of types of hazardous waste and sustainable waste management practices that support environmental protection and circular economy goals.

At the Scheduled Waste to Energy (sWTE) site, scheduled waste items are incinerated at 1000-1200 degrees celcius, generating energy supply that are channeled back to the national power grid to support up to 6,000 homes.

This prevents unwanted and expired medicines from being discarded at landfills or flushed down the toilet, where they risk contaminating the waterways. Studies have shown that rivers around the world, including that in Putrajaya and Kajang, contain high levels of pharmaceutical residues.

As MOH's Rakan Strategik for MyMediSAFE, this visit served as a meaningful learning experience, reinforcing MyMediSAFE’s commitment to safe medicine disposal and strengthening collaboration towards environmental sustainability through responsible pharmaceutical waste management.

We extend our appreciation to the Cenviro team for their hospitality, insightful knowledge sharing, and contribution in promoting a cleaner, safer Malaysia.

Have used or expired medicines to dispose? Find the closest MyMediSAFE collection point to you from www.mymedisafe.org.my to dispose them correctly.

07/11/2025

The EcoPharma 2025 x World Pharmacist Day, UiTM's School of Pharmacy's annual hallmark event proved to be an inspiring weekend at Wangsa Walk Mall from 1–2 November 2025, where we championed responsible medicine disposal through the MyMediSAFE programme. ♻️

With strong participation, we successfully collected 9 kg of unused and expired medicines for safe disposal! This collective effort proves that small collective actions can make a big difference in protecting our communities and environment.

Visitors learned how improper medicine disposal can impact our water sources and ecosystems, while exploring steps to manage unused and expired medicines safely through engaging activities and interactive exhibits.

A heartfelt thank you to EcoPharma (UiTM), our dedicated student volunteers, and visitors who made this event a success. Together, we are building a Malaysia where medicine safety starts at home and sustainability starts with us. 🌏

View photo album here:

Explore this photo album by PhAMA Photo Gallery on Flickr!

06/11/2025

On 29 October 2025, PhAMA represented by Nur Syimah Izzah (AstraZeneca), Sheikh (Roche), Li Jin Chan (PhAMA), and Jessie Leow (PhAMA) participated in the Stakeholder Engagement Session on Malaysia’s National Precision Medicine Framework, co-chaired by the Ministry of Health (MOH), Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MOSTI), and the Ministry of Higher Education (MOHE).

Facilitated by Professor Dr. Soo-Hwang Teo, the discourse focused on translating Malaysia’s precision medicine policies into actionable steps, strengthening cross-sector collaboration, and exploring inclusion into the national budget.

Key themes discussed included:

🧬 Disease-specific strategies – rare diseases, cancer, and pharmacogenomics
🏥 System enablers – infrastructure, workforce development, financing, and ethics
🤝 Partnerships – opportunities for industry collaboration to advance research and access

The inputs serves to provide evidence generation and explore partnership models to expand patient access to precision therapies.

This engagement reflects PhAMA’s continued commitment to supporting Malaysia’s healthcare transformation through science, innovation, and partnership.

06/11/2025

At PhAMA's Value-Based Healthcare (VBHC) Forum held in July 2025, the panel of experts focused on transforming access pathways in Malaysia’s healthcare system through a value-based lens.

The discussion centered on how outcomes-focused models can help ensure that medical innovations reach all Malaysians, particularly in the face of growing sustainability challenges posed by Malaysia’s taxation-funded healthcare delivery model.

Expert panellists brought diverse perspectives to the table, moderated by Dr. Na Wei Lun, Co-founder of Angsana Academy:
 Dr. Azuana binti Ramli, Deputy Director-General of Health (Pharmaceutical Services)
 Prof. Dr. Rohana Abdul Ghani, President of the Malaysian Obesity Society and Professor at UiTM
 Prof. Kenneth Lee, Professor of Health Economics, Monash University Malaysia.

Key themes discussed:
🔹 Rethinking funding models – moving beyond tax-based financing toward contributory schemes (e.g. social health insurance) to ensure long-term sustainability.
🔹 Outcomes-based access – shifting reimbursement towards measurable patient outcomes rather than procurement costs.
🔹 Addressing public sector challenges – budget constraints, low health literacy, and gaps in access to essential treatments such as obesity medications.
🔹 Infrastructure for outcome monitoring – strengthening EMRs, disease registries, and patient-reported outcomes to inform evidence-based decisions.
🔹 Policy and procurement reform – enabling outcome-linked agreements and flexible budget cycles for high-cost therapies.
🔹 Pilot programs for impact – using measurable indicators (e.g. HbA1c, weight loss, blood pressure) to test value-based contracts and shared-risk models.
🔹 Collaborative transformation – emphasising the role of cross-sector partnerships, patient engagement, and phased implementation.

Moving from volume to value is more than a policy change — it’s a paradigm shift. With strong clinicians, established HTA structures, and a committed health ministry, Malaysia has the foundation to pilot and scale value-based healthcare for the benefit of all patients.

* Every Thursday, we feature the series to help you stay abreast of the innovator pharmaceutical sector in Malaysia. Follow for more!

05/11/2025

On 30 October 2025, PhAMA represented by members of the Tender Procurement Task Force, met with YB Wong Chen to constructively discuss the industry’s perspectives on enhancing transparency and efficiency within Malaysia’s pharmaceutical procurement processes.

The meeting was chaired by YB Wong Chen, Chair of the Special Select Committee on International Relations and International Trade.

Discussion points included opportunities to strengthen predictability in medicine tender processes, enhancing fair competition and reinforcing Malaysia’s position as an attractive destination for international pharmaceutical investment.

PhAMA is committed to work collaboratively with the Special Select Committee on International Relations and International Trade, and other policymakers to support a procurement framework that is predictable and sustainable — reinforcing Malaysia’s reputation as a trusted destination for pharmaceutical investment and innovation and strengthening medicine security.

Li Jin Chan | Shamie Zainal | Julius Cheah | Chin Wui Mon | Stephanie Koh | Jessie Leow

05/11/2025

PhAMA connected with the Life Insurance Association of Malaysia (LIAM) — represented by CEO Mr. Mark O’Dell and Executive Secretary Ms. Nancy Tan — to foster closer collaboration between the pharmaceutical and insurance sectors in support of Malaysia’s healthcare transformation and equitable access to innovative medicines.

Key highlights:
• Discussed the role of innovative medicines in reducing Malaysia’s NCD burden
• Aligned on the RESET Programme’s objectives to promote sustainable, value-based healthcare.
• Addressed challenges in insurance coverage for innovative therapies and agreed to close the gap through technical scientific exchange.
• Shared updates on Diagnosis Related Groups (DRG) under the MHIT framework to enhance transparency and system efficiency.
• Both parties agreed to organize educational seminars to bridge science and policy — strengthening mutual understanding of innovation’s long-term value.

This engagement marks a positive step toward a more collaborative, patient-centered, and sustainable healthcare ecosystem in Malaysia.

Li Jin Chan | Ai Teng Kam | Jessie Leow | Angie Ng | Nigel Fong | Nur Syimah Izzah | Rowena Gan | Buvanes