Pharmaniaga targets local production of nine vaccines to boost Malaysia's medicine security
Pharmaniaga Berhad announced plans to manufacture nine vaccines for Malaysia's National Immunisation Programme, beginning with a locally produced PCV13 pneumococcal vaccine.
During the inaugural PharmaView Expert Series on national health security, Pharmaniaga Berhad outlined a roadmap to produce nine vaccines currently imported for Malaysia's National Immunisation Programme. The company will debut a locally manufactured PCV13 pneumococcal vaccine in late 2027, with HPV and EV71 vaccines expected in 2028 and a hexavalent vaccine by 2029. Managing director Zulkifli Jafar emphasized that 100% of vaccines used today are imported, making domestic production crucial for cost reduction and broader access.
Board member Mohammad Ashraf Md Radzi warned that geopolitical tensions and pandemic-era shortages expose vulnerabilities in the supply chain, urging diversification and visibility of risks. Health Ministry deputy director-general Mohd Azman Yacob added that medicine security requires resilient supply chains, strategic stockpiles, and clear regulations to ensure patients receive needed treatments on time.
Why it matters
Local vaccine production can lower costs, improve access, and reduce Malaysia's reliance on volatile global supply chains.
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