Building A Resilient And Sustainable Healthcare System

Malaysia was able to contain the initial wave of COVID-19 successfully. Many strengths and weaknesses across all sectors were revealed, with lessons learned. Throughout, the central focus was the health of Malaysians while balancing the needs of the nation’s economy.

Against this backdrop, Tan Sri Dr. Jemilah Mahmood, Special Advisor on Public Health to the Prime Minister of Malaysia, engaged with AMCHAM members today on 5 August 2020 in an insightful session on building a resilient and sustainable healthcare system in the country in the context of today’s shocks and disruption in the form of future pandemics and other threats such as climate change.

She presented her views and ideas for Malaysia’s health policies and initiatives, spanning public-private partnerships, international benchmarking exercises, and an all-inclusive health insurance system.

This was followed by a frank and candid discussion with a group of panelists consisting of AMCHAM member companies. They were Dave Mitchell, Vice President and General Manager of Boston Scientific, Shakilla Shahjihan, Divisional Vice President in Asia Pacific & Japan of Abbott, Chin Keat Chyuan, Managing Director of Johnson and Johnson and President of the Pharmaceutical Association of Malaysia (PhAMA), and Nesha Armo, Associate Director of Market Access, Government Relations, Policy and Communications of Merck, Sharp & Dohme (MSD).

The panelists represent the start of an AMCHAM Healthcare Committee which will bring together AMCHAM members across the healthcare spectrum to address the opportunities and business realities of this wide-ranging sector.

A special mention goes to participants who had actively participated with a live stream of comments and questions which organically developed the discussion.

We express our utmost appreciation to Tan Sri Dr. Jemilah Mahmood for joining us.