THE Netherlands Life Sciences and Health Seminar and Matchmaking held earlier this morning at the Interncontinental Hotel proved to be an invaluable platform for the meeting of minds and the realisation of health missions.
Presenting a comprehensive summary in which she listed the similarities faced between The Netherlands and Malaysia to the floor, Dutch Vice Minister of Public Health Marjolijn Sonnema highlighted common concerns for both countries namely an ageing population, the need for digital transformation and having to adapt to the challenges brought about by the pandemic as in overcoming mental health issues.
“We share important values and the urge to improve people’s lives is one of them. This common ground gives us the opportunity to learn from one another,” she said.
Like Malaysia, the Dutch healthcare system is often a testbed for solutions with both the Dutch healthcare system and Malaysia’s healthcare policies being exemplary.
Moving along into the endemic stage with Malaysia having one of the most affordable healthcares in the world, and as a preferred foreign healthcare system for patients, she noted that it is encouraging to know that Malaysia is working towards stepping up its digital plans for healthcare.
She expressed optimism that in the near future, more new partnerships between both countries would emerge for the better good.
Dr Fazidah Shafik Alauddin, Senior Deputy Director (Planning Division) at the Health Ministry (MOH), concurred with Sonnema.
“Our areas of concern for health and the issues and solutions we offer are similar. In terms of population health, Malaysia has a high rate of diabetes and hyper tension, and mental health has been a challenge during the pandemic,” she remarked.
Acknowledging that Malaysia is on track to becoming a digital health care society where new technology is key, Dr Fazidah said that Malaysia’s digitalisation journey has come a long way.
However, in terms of the global digitalisation benchmark, it still lags a tad behind while The Netherlands is placed 4th place on the global index.
Encouraging attendance by key industry players which counted a delegation from MOH and representatives from Institut Jantung Negara (IJN) and other property developers with interests in health care made the event a pronounced success.
A representative from MOH observed that utilising technology in clinical research is pivotal, even more so in this endemic stage where the digital era is pivotal.
He said that the platform organised today presented an excellent platform to explore opportunities in digital health with The Netherlands. This is as MOH steps up on its digital initiatives to boost clinical research.
IJN head of marketing Akim Affandi Ahmad found the seminar and the specially-tailored networking session especially useful in establishing synergies and tie-ups.
“We are not just a hospital but a centre of excellence for cardiology. We have been pioneering a number of breakthrough clinical procedures not just for Malaysia but within Southeast Asia and Asia,” he said.
“The European nations have been pioneering a lot of digital healthcare systems clinical outcomes so we always welcome new technologies.”
The seminar also witnessed a milestone achievement with a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) exchange between Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) and Erasmus University Medical Centre to facilitate the exchange of students and researchers between The Netherlands and Malaysia. – June 13, 2022
Yvonne Yoong is FocusM contributing Property & Lifestyle Editor seasoned in covering the property beat and other industries.
The views expressed are solely of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Focus Malaysia.
