KUALA LUMPUR: The health ministry is looking forward to a larger allocation under Budget 2013 to enable more research and development (R&D) to be carried out, besides improving healthcare services and facilities in the country.
The minister, Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai, noted that R&D was an important investment in the development of the healthcare sector.
“As research evidence plays a key role in decision-making and policy formulation in healthcare, the ministry is looking into ways to improve career pathways and performance incentives for researchers.
“We also need to improve resource allocation and support systems that encourage advanced research,” he said when opening the 6th National Conference for Clinical Research 2012 (NCCR 2012) here yesterday.
Liow said, last year, the country managed to bring in 321 ongoing and new industry-sponsored research (ISR) clinical trials, surpassing the target by 61.
This year, the ministry had set a target of 300 ISRs, and as of last month, 259 ISRs comprising 140 ongoing and 119 new clinical trials were in public, academic and private healthcare facilities.
Speaking to reporters later, Liow said a bigger allocation would enable the ministry to improve facilities at clinics and hospitals to provide better healthcare services to the people.
The minister also commented on the case of a 17-year-old SMK Tasek student in Ipoh who was diagnosed with tuberculosis (TB) on Sept 7.
He said the ministry had conducted the Mantoux test on the students and staff at the school, and although initial tests showed that 34 tested positive for TB, follow-up X-ray and sputum tests confirmed that 14 of them were negative.
He gave an assurance that the ministry was closely monitoring the development. — Bernama