Page 8 - PULSE@UM 2nd Issue 2019

research spotlight
RESEARCH SPOTLIGHT foster interdisciplinary collaboration among care”, said Professor Ng.

the researchers in the Faculty of Medicine
CANCER RESEARCH FORUM: IMPROVING ACCESS TO AFFORDABLE and the different faculties in the University Although it was only a one-day forum, it was filled
CANCER TREATMENTS IN MALAYSIA of Malaya as well as stakeholders outside with insightful lectures, including a keynote
the University in fundamental, clinical and address by Dr. Lo Ying Ru Jacqueline (Head of
public health research in cancer. Over the Mission and WHO representative to Malaysia,
years, UMCRI has become a full member of Brunei Darussalam and Singapore) who shared
the Union of International Cancer Control about the development and implementation of
(UICC) in July 2018 with funding support from the World Health Organization (WHO) essential
the Professor Atiya Cancer Research Fund. medicine list for cancer. The economic impact
UMCRI continues to move towards bidding of cancer on patients and their families was
for the project “Greater Petaling City (Petaling also discussed by Dr. Nirmala Bhoo Pathy,
Jaya and Subang Jaya) Cancer Challenge who revealed that although financial toxicity
2025”, together with the National Cancer from medical costs happens mainly in private
Society Malaysia. This project aims to improve hospitals, public hospital patients suffer
equitable sustainable access of patients to from non-medical costs. Dr. Ros Suzanna
cancer care solutions in these cities to propel Ahmad Bustaman (Head of Radiotherapy
them towards World Health Organization and Oncology, Hospital Kuala Lumpur)
sustainable development goals. “University highlighted the disparity in trained human
Malaya Medical Centre has been instrumental resource in managing the large burden in the
in moving forward in cancer management and public sector. From regulatory perspectives,
The distinguished speakers of the forum.
From left: Mr Billy S. Urudra (President, Malaysia Organisation of Pharmaceutical industries MOPI), Mr Allen Patino (Vice President, treatment given the comprehensive state of Madam Noraishah Mohd Sani (Head, Biologics
Pharmaceutical Association of Malaysia PhaMA), Dr Ramli bin Zainal (Senior Director of Pharmaceutical Services Programme, the art treatments, comparable to the world, Section, Centre for Product Registration,
MOH), YB Dr Lee Boon Chye and Dr Ros Suzanna Ahmad Butamam (Head, Oncology and Radiotherapy Services MOH)
cutting across from preventive to palliative National Pharmaceutical Regulatory Agency,

PROFESSOR DR NUR AISHAH TAIB organizations (NGOs) and a government
DEPARTMENT OF SURGERY agency i.e. the National Pharmaceutical
Regulatory Agency (NPRA), Ministry of Health
n conjunction with the Union for International participated. The forum aimed to share
ICancer Control’s (UICC) World Cancer Day, knowledge on research output by University
the University Malaya Cancer Research Malaya scholars as well as to create dialogues
Institute (UMCRI), together with the Faculty of to solve issues pertaining to financial toxicity
Medicine, Academy of Medicine and Together and access to affordable cancer treatments
Against Cancer Association Malaysia, to fellow researchers, non-governmental
organised a forum entitled “Improving Access organisations and public service officers.
to Affordable Cancer Treatments in Malaysia”.
The forum was held on 25th February 2019, In his welcome address, Professor Dr. Ng
at the TJ Danaraj Auditorium, Faculty of Chirk Jenn, the Deputy Dean of Research of
Medicine, University of Malaya, with 178 the Faculty of Medicine, recalled the journey
participants. Apart from academia, industry of introducing UMCRI back in 2009. He
and professional bodies, 15 non-governmental mentioned that the purpose of UMCRI is to Prof. Dr. Rosmawati Bt Mohamed chairing the panel discussion

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