Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has urged Malaysia’s medical research community to pursue deeper regional partnerships, arguing that a unified Asean approach could be key to lowering pharmaceutical costs, accelerating innovation, and tailoring treatments to Southeast Asian populations.

Speaking at the CRM Trial Connect Conference 2025, Anwar emphasised the importance of collaboration beyond borders, calling on Clinical Research Malaysia (CRM) and other national institutions to actively engage with leading centres across Asean capitals — from Phnom Penh and Vientiane to Jakarta, Singapore, Bangkok, and Manila. Such networks, he said, could transform the pace and relevance of clinical trials in the region.

He also stressed the need for closer synergy between CRM and Malaysian universities, particularly within their medical faculties, to ensure that research remains grounded in the needs of local communities and contributes meaningfully to public health outcomes.

“The rising cost of healthcare remains a pressing concern,” Anwar said. “We cannot allow the medical sector to be shaped solely by profit-driven motives, where large companies rake in excessive margins at the expense of patients. There must be balance, responsibility, and people-centred innovation.”

Anwar’s remarks reflect growing concerns over the affordability and accessibility of modern treatments, as well as the uneven pace of medical innovation across developing economies. He called for a more strategic, regionally anchored model of cooperation, suggesting that such an approach would not only streamline research but also attract investment and raise standards across the board.

Also attending the event were Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad and Sarawak Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Dr Sim Kui Hian, who also oversees the state’s Ministry of Public Health, Housing, and Local Government.

(Source: Bernama)

• TAGS:
• ASEAN
• Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim
• Healthcare
• Healthcare Costs
• Pharmaceutical Costs
• Treatments