Malaysia calls for WHO-led pooled medicine purchasing amid supply risks

Health Minister Datuk Seri Dzulkefly Ahmad said the move was urgent as almost the entire region is facing critical challenges due to disrupted supply chains, market uncertainty, and high reliance on Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient (API) imports, with international geopolitical conflicts worsening the situation. — Pexels pic

First Published: Wednesday, 21 Oct 2026 9:38 AM MYT

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 21 — Malaysia has proposed that the World Health Organisation (WHO) Western Pacific Region (WPRO) urgently pilot a pooled procurement project for selected medicines to ensure drug security in the region.

Health Minister Datuk Seri Dzulkefly Ahmad said the move was urgent as almost the entire region is facing critical challenges due to disrupted supply chains, market uncertainty, and high reliance on Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient (API) imports, with international geopolitical conflicts worsening the situation.

“Regional diplomacy and solidarity today must be translated beyond mere expressions of good intentions. To protect the survival of health systems in the Western Pacific, we demand a strategic, bold shift in action focused on tangible, measurable results,” he said in a Facebook post yesterday.

Dzulkefly presented the proposal at the Ministerial Roundtable held in conjunction with the 77th WHO WPRO Regional Committee Meeting.

He said the pooled procurement pilot project must involve selected medicines with healthy supplier competition and clear shared needs, and must be implemented transparently.

To support the mechanism, Dzulkefly proposed developing an ASEAN Medicines Security Dashboard as an early warning system linking pricing information with supply distribution, stock availability, and manufacturing capacity.

He also stressed that price monitoring alone could not absolutely guarantee medicine security.

Instead, he said the region needs a strategic manufacturing alliance through joint investment initiatives to cover production gaps.

“To realise this major framework, it requires clear leadership from a lead country under the 2026-2030 Plan, complete with funding accountability and clear key performance indicators,” he said.

Domestically, he said Malaysia has institutionalised pooled procurement across government health facilities, maintained a three-month medicine buffer stock, and spearheaded the ASEAN Drug Security and Self-Reliance (ADSSR) initiative.

He added that Malaysia would continue to leverage global health diplomacy platforms to ensure uninterrupted treatment for the people. — Bernama