Malaysia Leads ASEAN Push for Self-Reliant Essential Medicine Supply Chains

Delivering Malaysia's statement at the 77th Regional Committee Meeting for the Western Pacific in Manila, Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad said the country is spearheading the ASEAN Drug Security and Self-Reliance (ADSSR) programme to lessen reliance on unstable global supply chains for essential medicines. He highlighted Malaysia's leadership of the 17th ASEAN Health Ministers' Meeting and its push for structural reforms that prioritize disease prevention, community-based non-communicable disease screening, fiscal measures like sugar taxes, and a digital health framework for early detection.

The Lung Health Initiative, he explained, will embed screening and treatment for both communicable and non-communicable lung diseases within primary care. On global health governance, Malaysia backs reforms to make the WHO more action-oriented, advocating greater inclusion of developing nations and Small Island Developing States through a task force with Japan under China's co-chairmanship. Dzulkefly will meet WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, regional director Dr Saia Ma’u Piukala, and WHO DG candidates Hanan Mohamed Al Kuwari and Budi Gunadi Sadikin during his visit.