In a landmark seminar themed “Brazil-Malaysia: Equitable Access to Medicines,” held recently in Kuala Lumpur, experts from both countries converged to address pressing issues surrounding healthcare accessibility and medication affordability. This collaborative initiative, organised by the Embassy of Brazil in Kuala Lumpur, aimed at fostering dialogue and exchanging “best practices” between the two countries.
His Excellency Ary Norton de Murat Quintella, the Ambassador of Brazil, who was present at the seminar, noted that March 8 was a significant date, it being International Women’s Day. In his speech, he said: “Respect for women’s rights is at the centre of Brazil’s political agenda. As an initiative to address gender-related inequities, the Ministry of Women was created as a cabinet post in Brazil, and the government of Brazil launched a comprehensive interministerial package of gender-responsive policies with 25 actions aimed at empowering women.”[ihc-hide-content ihc_mb_type=”block” ihc_mb_who=”unreg” ihc_mb_template=”3″ ]
“One of the key highlights of the seminar was the emphasis on gender-responsive policies and their impact on healthcare access, particularly for women.” According to him, the inequalities in access to medicines and medical products disproportionately affect women. He pointed out the urgent need for collaborative efforts to address these inequalities on a global scale, advocating for multilateral cooperation to refocus discussions on international development and autonomy for all peoples.
Another speaker, Dr. Marco Krieger, Vice President of the Brazil-based Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (Fiocruz), a prominent Institution of Science and Technology (Health) in Latin America, outlined the Brazilian policy regarding the health economic industrial premise and the development of mRNA vaccines. He said: “Research is really important for us, and we need to try to fill the research gaps as did Brazilian physician and bacteriologist Osvaldo Cruz, who fought against smallpox and yellow fever in 1903.”
He also cited Brazilian physician-scientist Carlos Chagas, who made one of the most complex discoveries in biomedical science, where he described a new disease named after him (Chagas disease) and also identified its vector and ecological agent. “This would not be possible if Chagas had failed to address any gaps as the research unfolded during its initial stages,” he added.
Another speaker at the seminar, Datin Dr. Sheamini Sivasampu, Director of the Institute of Clinical Research Malaysia, said Malaysia’s healthcare infrastructure faces significant challenges, despite its smaller population, particularly within the public healthcare system overseen by the Ministry of Health. “The daunting task of providing optimal care, especially in fields like oncology, is evident due to the prohibitive costs of medications, and this, despite the country’s universal healthcare system.”
According to her, initiatives such as clinical trial grants are necessary to foster investigative research and address critical gaps in healthcare delivery. Another speaker touched on the impact of intellectual property rights on medication affordability. Yoke Ling Chee, Executive Director of the Third World Network, highlighted that the imbalanced intellectual property system poses significant challenges to innovation and access to affordable medicines in the global pharmaceutical industry.
She said: “The elements we need for basic research innovation, clinical trials, which add up to the complexity of technologies, research capability, infrastructure, an ecosystem of innovation, as well as legal and political will, are the challenges faced by the healthcare system in reaching out to serve the public sector.” Yoke also said: “If we don’t have the policy and law in the area of regulation for drug safety and marketing and if we don’t have a proper sense of intellectual property system and regime that we need to have, then we will end up retarding R&D and cutting off access and affordability.”
Deputy Minister of Health Malaysia, Datuk Lukanisman Awang Sauni, said: “The Brazil-Malaysia Equitable Access to Medicines seminar served as a platform for meaningful dialogue, collaboration, and knowledge exchange. It reinforced the notion that by working together and leveraging each other’s strengths, nations can bridge borders and pave the way for a healthier and more equitable future for all.”
[/ihc-hide-content]
