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by Wilfred Pilo
KUCHING, Sept 21: Deputy Secretary-General of the Ministry of Health, Dato Sri Norazman Ayob, presided over the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the National Institutes of Health, Ministry of Health, and the Sarawak Infectious Disease Council (SIDC) at the Waterfront Hotel today.
This MOU will facilitate an extensive research and development initiative by SIDC, focusing on various aspects of infectious diseases, including disease surveillance, diagnostics, therapeutics discovery, vaccine development, data analytics, and human capital development.
Before the MOU signing, Norazman represented Health Minister Dr Zalina Mustafa in officiating the 16th National Conference for Clinical Research (NCCR), which coincided with the 20th anniversary of Sarawak General Hospital’s Clinical Research Day.
“We have to build our domestic capacities and abilities regarding self-sufficiency, be it pharmaceutical or medical devices.
“While you may have some of the finest doctors, medical specialists, and nurses, if you don’t have your pharmaceutical, you don’t have your medical devices, you do not have a medical care system as this is what research leadership is about.
“So, when you talk about research, please don’t confine analysis to pharmaceuticals but also do research into medical devices, and technology,” he said.
Deputy Minister of Education, Innovation, and Talent Development Datuk Dr Annuar Rapaee, Acting Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Health, Housing, and Local Government Abu Bakar Sepawi, and Dr Shearini Sivasampu, Chairperson of the Organising Committee for NCCR 2023, were among the dignitaries present at the event. — DayakDaily
