KPJ Healthcare Berhad

'Go into medical R&D’

The government wants medical universities, especially those with their own hospitals, to venture into research and development to produce new medical drugs as these are uncharted waters in Malaysia.

The government wants medical universities, especially those with their own hospitals, to venture into research and development to produce new medical drugs as these are uncharted waters in Malaysia.

Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin said medical drug research and development requires universities with access to their own hospitals as the large number of patients allows for a tremendous amount of case study and research activities.

"The best approach is for universities to commit themselves to research and development together with pharmaceutical companies," said Khaled after awarding university college status to KPJ International University College of Nursing and Health Sciences (KPJIUC) here yesterday.

"Universities with access to hospitals will have an even greater advantage as they can study a vast amount of patients’ medical records on illnesses for research purposes."

Khaled reiterated his ministry’s initiative to ensure Malaysia’s progress in commercialising new technology through research and development on commercially viable patented products which includes medical drugs.

"With its tremendous support from its parent group, which is a public listed entity, KPJIUC has the means, resources and facilities to go into drug discovery. With their target of achieving full university status by 2016, drug discovery is an area they should venture into.

"A lot of knowledge can be found and discovered in the medical sector. Medical R&D requires that the university has its own hospitals. KPJIUC currently has access to more than 20 hospitals in Malaysia and two more in Jakarta, giving them a lot of advantage," said Khaled.

KPJ also plans to establish four more hospitals by 2012 in Klang, Kota Kinabalu, Muar and Pasir Gudang.

Under KPJIUC, its Kota Seriemas campus in Nilai will be undergoing its RM 50 million phase 2 development, expected to be completed by August next year. Phase  3 construction is expected to begin in 2013 with the cost being around RM 70 million.