Mr PM. Are Malaysians being used as medical guinea pigs?
I was reading the 2nd page of the Star newspaper today, and I was quite troubled at what I had read.
The article said, Pharmaceutical firms view Malaysia as ideal location for research.
Additionally, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said priority could be given to such value-added (clinical) trials as Malaysia’s multi-ethnic composition represented a big portion of the global population.
University of Aberdeen Institute of Medical Science lecturer Professor Anne Glover said Malaysia could serve as a one-stop centre for clinical trials due to its multi-ethnic population.
“Pharmaceutical companies are interested to use the resources here,” she said.
Light moment: Najib at the meeting in Kuala Lumpur Monday.
With him are Science, Technology and Innovation Minister
Datuk Seri Dr Maximus Ongkili (left)
and the Prime Minister’s Science advisor
Tan Sri Dr Ahmad Zaharudin Idrus.
http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2009/11/17/nation/20091117070831&sec=nation
I checked the Business Times (belonging to New Straits Times) and they quote the Prime Minister as saying, “Malaysia should give priority to “value add clinical trials” and “diagnostic trials” in the medicine field as the country has a plural society suitable to test the global market.
“We’ve Malays, Chinese, Indians, Sabahans and Sarawakians who represent the major global market. Malaysia is most suitable to conduct the study,” he said.”
http://www.btimes.com.my/Current_News/BTIMES/articles/20091116144600/Article/index_html
Jasmin says,
What does this mean? Now, correct me if I’m wrong, but doesn’t the article mean that we, the Malaysian population are now targeted as guinea pigs for medical tests? Does it mean our bodies will be subjected to untested medicines and such?
And if it is, how will these companies test us? Will they be using the almost free Malaysian public health care as a vehicle to distribute the medicine and test their products on unsuspecting Malaysians. Will they inform the us beforehand that we will be targeted as guinea pigs or will they just quietly test us without our knowledge?
I’m really troubled about this. I would not want my family and I to be used in a clinical trial as who knows the ramifications of using untested drugs. Would you? Can someone care to enlighten me on this and tell me what I’m reading is right or wrong? I do hope I’m wrong, and maybe misinterpret the article.
Tagged with: Family • health • medicine
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