Pharmaceutical Association of Malaysia

02/09/2025

Medicine that is not disposed correctly ends up in our waterways, contaminating our rivers and oceans, impacting marine life, and potentially posing health risks such as anti-microbial resistance (AMR).

So what can we do to promote safe medicine disposal? Raise awareness on MyMediSAFE so that the public know where to send their expired or unused medicines!

As part of the advocacy efforts, PhAMA's programme officer, Britney Choo, was interviewed on Ai FM recently on the correct medicine disposal methods.

Catch the interview here: https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1B27ey56cZ/

Visit www.mymedisafe.org.my to find a collection centre closest to you!

MyMediSAFE, initiated by Malaysia's Ministry of Health, aims to Control Medicine Wastage & Reduce Environmental Pollution. (www.mymedisafe.org.my)

01/09/2025

Healthcare financing is one of the key barriers to access to quality care. With rising medical inflation among private healthcare services, all stakeholders along the health eco-system need to come together with solutions that will be beneficial to patients.

As such, PhAMA initiated a knowledge-sharing session with the National Bank (Bank Negara Malaysia) on 18 August 2025 to share best practices and challenges that can contribute to Malaysia’s healthcare reforms.

The meeting, chaired by BNM’s Technical Advisor Datuk Jessica Chew and Deputy Director, Financial Development and Innovation Department Surannit Sureen Chit, was attended by senior management from BNM and representatives from the Ministry of Health’s Health Transformation Office.

PhAMA was led by President Kam Ai Teng and Executive Director Chan Li Jin, with representatives comprising senior personnel from the Policy and Market Access committees.

The highlight of the session was a presentation by Alex Xia, formerly a senior pharmaceutical personnel, on China's Healthcare System and China’s experience in enhancing access to innovative cancer treatments through supplementary medical insurance (SMI).

The ensuing discussion focused on the potential adaptation of similar insurance models in Malaysia, particularly on the upcoming base MHIT (Medical Health Insurance & Takaful) programme that is part of the RESET framework that was recently launched by the Ministry of Health and Ministry of Finance.

To enrich the discussions, PhAMA representatives shared findings from a survey done among members on challenges and recommendations related to private insurance reimbursement policies. These challenges may sometimes impact prescribing behaviour and treatment outcomes.

PhAMA expressed readiness to support BNM in the development of the MHIT framework utilising value-based principles that will enable the inclusion of innovative therapies based on best clinical practices.

Datuk Jessica explained how the MHIT aims to design a base MHIT product that is affordable and accessible so as to extend healthcare coverage to a broader population, particularly the uninsured M40. This foundational insurance plan is intended to reduce the burden on MOH public hospitals by enabling more individuals to seek treatment at private healthcare facilities.

This initial engagement hopes to catalyse ongoing dialogue and collaboration among pharmaceutical companies, insurance providers, and BNM in further engagements, roundtable discussions, and capacity-building initiatives to support the development and implementation of the MHIT framework.

Angie Ng | Stephanie Koh | Rowena Gan Xin Yi | Nigel Fong | Tham Sook Mun | Jessie Leow

30/08/2025

PhAMA's signature Retro Walk returns for the 3rd edition on 4 October 2025, this time at the scenic Taman Tasek Permaisuri Cheras!

Retro Walking is walking backwards as a form of exercise.

It has been scientifically proven to burn more calories and provide more health benefits than normal walking because it forces the walker to utilize different muscle groups to work. It also helps walkers to hone their senses by being sensitive to their surroundings particularly what they are unable to see.

Themed "You will never walk alone", PhAMA's Retro Walk is a non-competitive event where people walk in pairs holding two ends of a rope - one walking backwards, while another takes the lead by walking forward.

At the end of the first lap, the pair an exchange sides, where the retro walker now leads in walking forward, while his/her partner walks backwards.

The walk cultivates , and between walkers and is a great start towards enhancing your friendship with your retro partner.

Walking backwards symbolises the innovative spirit of bringing new treatments and cures that will improve our quality of life, where one is initially unaware of what is happening but depends on the eyes and senses of a reliable partner and friend.

The role reversal that happens at the end of the first lap symbolises the fact that health affects everyone, hence the need for a system for all.

Register now, and invite your friends and family to join this innovative event for all!

Register here: https://tinyurl.com/4pmws8rz

29/08/2025

Volatility, Uncertainty, Complexity, and Ambiguity (VUCA) are common in the pharmaceutical sector, particularly for innovator companies who continuously drive innovation, research and development.

In light of the recent global geopolitical changes and evolving healthcare system challenges in the country, PhAMA's Board of Director, Dr Abdullahi Sheriff, was on BFM recently to shed light on matters related to pricing, market selection and strategies that are applicable to most innovator pharmaceutical companies around the world.

Catch the interview here: https://tinyurl.com/mt4zcrcf

The pharmaceutical industry is at a crossroads, grappling with scepticism over the efficacy of medicines and rising competition We speak to Dr Abdullahi Sheriff, Managing Director of MSD for Singapore, Malaysia, and Brunei, about how the company is navigating these challenges whilst asking what is t...

28/08/2025

Health is wealth! In embracing this philosophy, Ai FM invited PhAMA and Ministry of Health programme partners to their exciting 20th Anniversary Celebration at KL Gateway Mall on 24 August 2025.

The event, comprising entertainment and educational talks on health and investments, attracted over 600 attendees from the surrounding areas.

As the MyMediSAFE Rakam Strategik (strategic partner), PhAMA conducted a collection campaign, where visitors brought along their unused and expired medicines while also learning about responsible medicine use, storage, and disposal. 11 kgs of unused and expired medicines was collected from the public for safe disposal.

PhAMA's programme officer, Britney Choo, also provided a brief talk to participants on safe medicine usage, storage and disposal. We hope that these efforts can continue in growing public awareness and raising commitment to protecting both public health and the environment.

As public education is key to raising awareness and empowering healthier communities, we invited our partners – Kenali Ubat Anda (KUA) and Tolak Ubat Tidak Sah (TOBaTS) programmes - under the MOH's Pharmacy Services Programme and Pharmacy Enforcement Division.

To add further value, IMU Cares, the CSR arm of International Medical University (IMU) took the opportunity to provide free AI-enabled diabetic eye screening for the public.

PhAMA is committed to supporting initiatives like MyMediSAFE to tackle environmental pollution, antimicrobial resistance (AMR), and foster healthier communities through safe and responsible practices 🌍.

As we advocate for better medicine access in Malaysia, we also stand with our frontline counterparts by leveraging on public–private partnerships to create synergy and drive greater impact for patients and communities.

Thank you to Ai FM, Ministry of Health Pharmacy Services Programme and Pharmacy Enforcement Division, IMU Cares, and everyone who joined us to make this event a success! Together, we can create healthier communities and a safer environment for all 🍃

27/08/2025

On 13 August 2025, Pharmaceutical Association of Malaysia (PhAMA) supported a seminar on ‘Advancing Patient Navigation and Financial Navigation in Chronic Disease Care' at Cititel Mid Valley.

Speakers Prof. Dr. Nirmala Bhoo Pathy from the Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Malaya, and Prof. Dr. Murallitharan Munisamy from the National Cancer Society of Malaysia (NCSM) provided insightful presentations with hands-on interactive learning on:

• Patient Navigation 101 – understanding the “what, why, and how” of navigation
• Financial Navigation – tackling the hidden costs and financial barriers in cancer care
• Group activities & brainstorming – participants worked through real-life scenarios and shared practical challenges and solutions from their own settings
• Experience sharing – insights from NCSM and international best practices
• Open session – collective advocacy on how we can act together to strengthen navigation in Malaysia

The key takeaway was that Patient Navigation is both an art and a science.

🎨 Art – compassion in guiding patients and securing timely access to care and support.
🔬 Science – evidence, structure, and strong monitoring & evaluation for lasting impact.

This balance transforms care delivery, improves patient outcomes, and strengthens health systems. Financial navigation adds another layer by addressing “hidden costs,” linking patients to resources, and improving overall efficiency.

PhAMA is proud to support and participate in this milestone initiative, which plays a crucial role in advancing access, equity, and sustainability in cancer and chronic disease care.

26/08/2025

PhAMA was honoured to participate in the Melaka Medicolegal Conference (MELMEC) 2025, held on 6–7 August at Hatten Hotel, Melaka, which was meant to ignite meaningful discussions on patient safety, accountability, and clinical governance.

Organised by the Melaka state health department, the conference was themed 'Best Practices: Reducing Litigation Through Excellence in Care'. Attended by over 300 delegates, it featured talks and real-world sharing by legal experts, healthcare professionals and insurance companies.

Officiated by the Melaka State Health Director, Dr. Ruzita binti Mustaffa, the conference aimed to enhance care standards and reduce medicolegal risks through best practices.

PhAMA was represented by our pharmacovigilance taskforce team lead, Dr Jegadeswary Jayakumar, who shared insights on “Silence is Risk: Why Adverse Event Reporting is a Medico-Legal Duty”. Key points of her presentation included:

- The history of pharmacovigilance, originating from Dr William Griffith McBride, an Australian obstetrician, whose research on thalidomide published in The Lancet in 1961 led to reduced medications during pregnancy
- The role of HCPs in reporting AE’s, with examples of adverse events which has historically changed the course of medicine
- ⁠How pharma companies disseminate new information (even for older products) to HCPs, hence HCPs need to stay vigilant on updates
- ⁠Where to find safety alerts on the NPRA website

Strengthening the reporting culture and embedding pharmacovigilance into routine clinical practice are essential steps toward safer and more accountable healthcare delivery. PhAMA is proud to be part of ongoing efforts that support quality, accountability, and safety in patient care.

26/08/2025

Missed the octane-charged action at our recent Badminton Tournament? Fret not, we captured the highlights of the tournament in this video!

View it here: https://ow.ly/oYSo50WLjmQ

To all players and cheerleaders, thank you for your sporting spirit and we look forward to see you again next year!

The annual PhAMA Badminton Tournament was an adrenalin-pumping event this year at the IOI Sports Centre, with 18 teams competing to emerge champions.After tw...

25/08/2025

The annual PhAMA Badminton Tournament was an adrenalin-pumping event this year at the IOI Sports Centre on 9-10 August 2025, with 18 teams competing for the trophies and winning medals.

After two intense days of matches, the winners were finally revealed! The winners for 2025 are:

Champions: Roche
First runner-up: DKSH
Second runner-up: Abbott

Congratulations to all winners and teams for the incredible sporting spirit!

Photo album: https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjCqSJR

19/08/2025

PhAMA held a brief but productive discussion with the Member of Parliament of Bagan Baru, Sim Tze Sin, on 11 August 2025 on pharmaceutical public tender procurement processes.

Key discussion points included the need for increased transparency and clarity in the tendering system, as well as recommendations for improvement to ensure medicine security and sustainability of medical supplies in the country.

PhAMA representatives comprised Executive Director Li Jin CHAN, Chin Wui Mon (AZ), Tee Loong Teck (NN) and Jessie Leow.