KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia and Singapore have signed the first health sector deal related to pharmaceutical regulatory matters in a move that hopes to see a boosting of healthcare services in both countries, government officials told Bikyamasr.com on Thursday. Health Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai said the agreement “was a new milestone” in cooperation as both Malaysia and Singapore faced similar challenges in the pharmaceutical field. “With this collaboration, we will be able to achieve a win-win situation as we can combine resources to eventually save cost and time,” he said after the inking of the deal on Wednesday. Liow said the agreement would 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 health agreement would also allow for joint evaluation and audits which would reduce timelines for pharmaceutical product registration for both countries. “We will also be able to cooperate by conducting mutual exchange of courses, seminars, attachment training, study visits and other related activities,” he said. Liow said the deal would also help strengthen enforcement, especially against illicit drugs and contraband products in both countries. “Through the cooperation, 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 materials,” he said. BM ShortURL: http://goo.gl/xC8TS Tags: Deal, Healthcare, Malaysia, Singapore Section: Health, Latest News, Southeast Asia
