Malaysia: Forum on Halal Healthcare Industry

Halal Industry Development Corporation (HDC) will host a Forum on Halal Healthcare Industry this Tuesday at the Grand Hyatt in which more than a thousand medical and healthcare practitioners, players, manufacturers, givers and academia will gather together to capture and deliberate the latest developments, trends and best practices.

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Deputy prime minister of Malaysia Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi is to present a keynote address on Halal initiatives for the healthcare industry at the forum.

The event will also feature regulatory perspectives in Halal pharmaceuticals deliberated by Anis Talib, Deputy Director, Centre for Product Registration, National Pharmaceutical Control Bureau of the Ministry of Health, Malaysia.

Also to speak at the forum on the medical community’s view versus Muslim public’s perspective healthcare and vaccination is Dato’ Dr Musa Mohd Nordin from the KPJ Damansara Specialist Hospital.

Adding to deeper understanding on the latest developments, advancements and innovations in the development of vaccines is the CEO of AJ Biologics Sdn Bhd, Dr Pierre A Morgan.

In respect to vaccines, there’s a complex situation linked to an absence of consensus on what makes a Halal biological product including vaccines.

From the public health perspective, immunizing against a deadly disease is accepted as Halal and as a social and religious responsibility (protecting the health of children, preventing diseases).

Providing vaccines totally free of animal components is a desirable target, although difficult and remote. Long term industrial strategies already integrate the goal to gradually remove all components of animal origin, while aiming at keeping cost of goods sold under control.

As early as possible in the value chain, starting by the vaccine design phase, the focus shall be on products that do not contain, or that are not manufactured with any components from animal regarded as non-Halal, or that are not slaughtered according to the principles of Islamic law.

Attendance to the Forum on Halal Healthcare Industry organised by HDC is by invitation. Those interested should contact HDC at halalhealthcare@hdcglobal.com or 1 800 880 555 (Malaysia).