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PRIME MINISTER Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has called for greater collaboration between Malaysian and ASEAN medical research institutions, urging a united regional approach to lower drug costs, accelerate innovation, and develop treatments that reflect Southeast Asia’s specific health needs.
Speaking at the opening of the CRM Trial Connect Conference 2025 in Kuala Lumpur, Anwar said Clinical Research Malaysia (CRM) must expand its network across ASEAN, including with institutions in Phnom Penh, Vientiane, Singapore, Jakarta, Bangkok, and Manila, to enhance the region’s collective capacity in clinical trials and medical research.
“One of our key challenges is to prevent healthcare costs from escalating. The medical industry can become burdensome, as we’ve seen major companies earning excessive profits without considering the burden on consumers,” he said.
Anwar also called on CRM to work closely with local universities, particularly medical faculties, to ensure that research remains rooted in the needs of the people and delivers direct impact.
He stressed that clinical research is not merely about scientific advancement, but a vital driver of jobs, technology development, and national economic growth.
“Since 2012, this ecosystem has contributed over RM1.5 billion to Malaysia’s Gross National Income and created more than 3,000 high-skilled jobs,” he said.
“Every clinical trial conducted in this country has a multiplier effect—from hospitals to clinical development centres, data management hubs, logistics networks, and central laboratories,” he added.
Anwar said Malaysia views the growth of clinical research as a critical pillar of both its healthcare system and its socio-economic agenda.
While global clinical trials are important, he emphasised the need for Southeast Asia and Asia more broadly to assert their leadership in medical innovation.
“Developing clinical research in this region is not just about numbers. It is about people. Talent. Knowledge. It’s about preparing our young people with the skills to succeed in a global marketplace,” he said.
“It’s about giving our professionals a platform to collaborate with the world’s brightest minds. And it’s about ensuring that innovation doesn’t only benefit a few but uplifts the lives of many.”
Anwar underscored the importance of building regional research networks that can respond to critical healthcare challenges across ASEAN.
“It is vital that we cultivate research collaboration and build regional networks to develop clinical breakthroughs that address the real health needs of people in this region.”
Also present at the event were Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad and Sarawak Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Dr Sim Kui Hian, who also serves as the state’s Minister for Public Health, Housing and Local Government.
Earlier this month, Dr Dzulkefly revealed that Malaysia had launched 267 new clinical studies in 2024, according to the Clinical Research Malaysia (CRM) 2024 Annual Report. This brings the total number of clinical research studies conducted in the country to over 2,500 since CRM’s establishment in 2012. - May 8, 2025
