Dr. John Ward, Director of the Coalition for Global Hepatitis Elimination, Task Force for Global Health,
Task Force for Global Health,
Ladies and gentlemen,
I am conveying the following remarks from Dr. Noor Hisham Abdullah, Director-General of Health of Malaysia, who conveys his regrets for not being able to make it for this event in-person, due to prior commitments.
1. Thank you for inviting Malaysia to share our experiences in Hepatitis prevention and the initiatives on health diplomacy that have been employed. We are humbled to have been invited to this prestigious platform to share our experiences.
2. Malaysia is a country with intermediate endemicity for hepatitis B, whereby approximately 5% of the Malaysian population is infected with the Hepatitis B Virus (HBV). Despite the incidence of HBV in Malaysia being constant between 11 and 15% for the past seven years and the introduction of HBV vaccination in 1989, the incidence of hepatitis B is projected to increase between 2010 and 2040. This rise is contributed by the increasing screening initiatives and better awareness of Hepatitis B among the general population in Malaysia.
3. In acknowledging that the prevention, treatment and care of hepatitis B and C is very much a multi-sectoral approach, Malaysia has therefore developed a National Strategic Plan for Hepatitis B and C (2019-2023). In terms of preventing Hepatitis B, strengthening viral hepatitis screening, especially among high-risk individuals including antenatal mothers and foreign workers; vaccinating infants and high-risk populations groups; and improving the quality and coverage of harm reduction programs – are paramount. Earlier this year, in January 2022, the hexavalent vaccine was given free to all non-citizen children aged seven years and below to optimize vaccination uptake among this target population.
4. Hepatitis C is a public health threat, affecting approximately 1.9% of the Malaysian population. Initiatives taken by the Ministry of Health Malaysia have positively impacted the treatment coverage and drug expenditure for Hepatitis patients. We wish to highlight the pivotal role of international collaborations, such as our outstanding partnerships with the Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative (DNDi) and the Foundation for Innovative New Diagnostics (FIND). These impactful partnerships have generated evidence supporting policy change and have scaled up the point of care diagnosis and decentralized treatment of Hepatitis C nationwide. Malaysia is pleased to announce that we are on track to achieving the WHO’s goal of eliminating Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) as a public health threat by 2030.
5. In 2017, Malaysia invoked the Compulsory License for government use, exercising “Rights of Government” under the Patent Act 1983 (Act 291) to procure the Direct-Acting Antiviral (DDA) HCV drug Sofosbuvir at an affordable price. Additionally, a new HCV Rapid Diagnostic Test Kit was developed through an R&D collaboration between Clinical Research Malaysia (CRM), the Ministry of Health Malaysia and FIND. In finding and treating our “missing millions”, free testing and treatment of HCV were scaled up through the decentralization of these services, from just 25 government health clinics in 2019 to 390 thus far in 2022. The program has expanded to include prisons, community-care drug rehabilitation centres and a health facility for refugees run by Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF).
6. In June 2021, Malaysia became the first country in the world to give conditional approval for using Ravidasvir Hydrochloride (200mg) as part of a new affordable combination treatment for chronic Hepatitis C infection. Ravidasvir is the first HCV drug developed through a South-South collaboration with funding and clinical support from the Malaysian Government and non-profit organizations.
7. The policy decisions and implementation of national strategies that are inclusive of the needs of marginalized populations as illustrated above are testaments to the Malaysian Government’s commitment to universal health coverage in leaving no one behind.
8. Last but not least, Malaysia wishes to record our interest in the formation of a UN Group of Friends in promoting solidarity to reach UN and WHO goals for hepatitis elimination. Hopefully, this formation will help low and middle-income countries eliminate hepatitis by bringing the high-level attention of donor agencies and promoting health diplomacy between the Member States and other organizations to build national and global capacities. Therefore, Malaysia invites all Member States to join us in forming the UN Group of Friends to Eliminate hepatitis.
Thank you.
Intervention prepared by:
Ministry of Health Malaysia
Endorsed by
Tan Sri Datuk Seri Dr Noor Hisham bin Abdullah
Director-General of Health Malaysia
Date: 15th September 2022