#HEALTH: Ensuring medicine access and security
PHARMANIAGA Berhad's work to develop local capability for the PCV13 pneumococcal vaccine, through technology transfer and collaboration with its partners, is one example of how it hopes to bring innovation closer to home while gradually building the knowledge and capabilities that can contribute to Malaysia’s medicine security.
Ensuring access to medicine and securing the medicine supply are critical issues being addressed by Pharmaniaga Berhad. The company is developing local capabilities for producing vaccines through technology transfer and partnerships. Currently, all vaccines used in Malaysia are imported, with 100% of them coming from abroad. Pharmaniaga aims to manufacture nine vaccines under the National Immunisation Programme, including polio, Tdap, and HPV vaccines.
The first locally manufactured vaccine will be the PCV13 pneumococcal vaccine, expected to launch in Q3-Q4 of 2027. Other vaccines like the HPV vaccine and EV71 vaccine for Hand Foot and Mouth Disease are targeted for release in 2028 and 2029, respectively. Localisation of vaccine production will reduce costs and improve vaccine accessibility for all Malaysians.
The forum, organised by Pharmaniaga, discussed medicine access and security, with a focus on the evolving geopolitical landscape and the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on global pharmaceutical supply chains. Malaysia imported approximately USD2.7 billion worth of pharmaceutical products in 2025, with 39% of medicines on the National Essential Medicines List not produced locally.
To strengthen medicine security, Malaysia must balance localisation with diversified sourcing, enhance supply-chain visibility, and have contingency plans for critical medicines. The ultimate goal is to ensure every Malaysian can access necessary treatments when needed.
Written by urgent.news from New Straits Times's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
