Ambassador Takahashi congratulated the launch event of the BEAUTY and Health program
2022/8/12
On 11 August 2022, Ambassador Takahashi delivered his congratulatory remarks at the launch event of the “BEAUTY (Bringing Education and Understanding to You) and Health” program organized by the National Cancer Society of Malaysia (NCSM) and Asian Cancer Forum (ACF). This event was part of the LEP 40th anniversary event.
This program is a cancer control activity program that includes cancer awareness in the community through barbers and beauticians, building a cancer prevention registry and developing a cancer education database, etc. This program will be implemented in Malaysia for three years in collaboration with NCSM, ACF, and Astellas Pharma Inc.
On the event, Ambassador Takahashi delivered his congratulatory remarks as follows.
Video of the event is available on NCSM's FB.
https://www.facebook.com/nationalcancersocietymalaysia/videos/596218172022119/
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Yang Berbehagia Khairy Jamaluddin, Minister of Health
Dato’ Dr Saunthari Somasundaram, President of National Cancer Society Malaysia,
Dr. Norie Kawahara, Representative Director of Asia Cancer Forum,
Tuan-tuan dan puan-puan,
Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen,
I would like to extend my heartfelt congratulations for the launch of the BEAUTY & Health Program. As I cannot be with you due to my schedule, please allow me to send you this recorded message.
Cancer is one of the major non-communicable diseases and the second leading cause of death in the world, with the number of patients and deaths increasing every year.
Early detection of cancer, early treatment, and development of effective treatments are becoming more important for whole society to work on. In this regard, the program to be launched this time to raise cancer awareness in the community, build a cancer prevention registry, and develop a cancer education database is a very important initiative, and I wish it a great success.
In Japan, one of the latest examples of our domestic measures related to cancer is the "Cancer Genomic Medicine" initiative launched in 2017. This initiative includes the development of a system that enables comprehensive search for cancer-related genes to support the determination of a treatment plan suitable for each cancer patient. Also, the Center for Cancer Genomics and Advanced Therapy (C-CAT) was established under this initiative to centrally manage cancer genome data and accelerate the progress of cancer treatment with integrated data.
International cooperation is also essential in the fight against cancer. The "BEAUTY & Health Project" is the latest initiative between Japan and Malaysia. And it is worth mentioning that our two countries are already collaborating on cancer control measures, such as through the " Asia Clinical Trials Network for Cancers Project (ATLAS project)" led by the National Cancer Center of Japan. NCC of Japan is actively working to implement cancer genomic medicine and develop drugs for rare cancers with hospitals and centers in Asia including Malaysia. I hope to see further development in this field.
Nowadays, R&D, manufacturing, and marketing of pharmaceuticals have become increasingly globalized. Therefore, it is essential for regulatory authorities in each country to cooperate and collaborate with each other in their activities. Asia, in particular, has become an important region in recent years as a hub for clinical development and the manufacturing of pharmaceuticals. From this perspective, I am pleased to hear that Japan’s Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Agency (PMDA) and Malaysia’s National Pharmaceutical Regulatory Agency (NPRA) successfully held the 2nd joint Japan-Malaysia symposium on pharmaceutical regulation last month, following the first symposium in 2015. I wish that our two countries continue to deepen the mutual cooperation and understanding in the area of pharmaceutical regulation and development.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
I have another reason to highlight joint efforts between Japan and Malaysia. This year is the 40th anniversary of the Look East Policy or LEP. The LEP in the past 40 years contributed "to develop human resources for the development of domestic industry in Malaysia.” And I hope that the LEP from now on should expand its scope and be developed to include cooperation in wider areas. Health sector is one of them. Today’s launch can be regarded as a good example of new partnership under the LEP.
We also pay attention to the statement of Malaysian Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Abdullah the other day mentioning "health diplomacy” as a priority for Malaysia. Japan has a lot of expertise in the health sector to offer to Malaysia. This is not limited to cancer treatment but includes measures for an aging society and universal health coverage. I hope that Japan-Malaysia relations will be further strengthened through exchange of expertise in the health sector and provide support to Malaysia’s” health diplomacy.”
Let me conclude my remarks by wishing once again this program to achieve a great success.
Thank you, Arigato and Terima Kasih.
This program is a cancer control activity program that includes cancer awareness in the community through barbers and beauticians, building a cancer prevention registry and developing a cancer education database, etc. This program will be implemented in Malaysia for three years in collaboration with NCSM, ACF, and Astellas Pharma Inc.
On the event, Ambassador Takahashi delivered his congratulatory remarks as follows.
Video of the event is available on NCSM's FB.
https://www.facebook.com/nationalcancersocietymalaysia/videos/596218172022119/
+++++++
Yang Berbehagia Khairy Jamaluddin, Minister of Health
Dato’ Dr Saunthari Somasundaram, President of National Cancer Society Malaysia,
Dr. Norie Kawahara, Representative Director of Asia Cancer Forum,
Tuan-tuan dan puan-puan,
Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen,
I would like to extend my heartfelt congratulations for the launch of the BEAUTY & Health Program. As I cannot be with you due to my schedule, please allow me to send you this recorded message.
Cancer is one of the major non-communicable diseases and the second leading cause of death in the world, with the number of patients and deaths increasing every year.
Early detection of cancer, early treatment, and development of effective treatments are becoming more important for whole society to work on. In this regard, the program to be launched this time to raise cancer awareness in the community, build a cancer prevention registry, and develop a cancer education database is a very important initiative, and I wish it a great success.
In Japan, one of the latest examples of our domestic measures related to cancer is the "Cancer Genomic Medicine" initiative launched in 2017. This initiative includes the development of a system that enables comprehensive search for cancer-related genes to support the determination of a treatment plan suitable for each cancer patient. Also, the Center for Cancer Genomics and Advanced Therapy (C-CAT) was established under this initiative to centrally manage cancer genome data and accelerate the progress of cancer treatment with integrated data.
International cooperation is also essential in the fight against cancer. The "BEAUTY & Health Project" is the latest initiative between Japan and Malaysia. And it is worth mentioning that our two countries are already collaborating on cancer control measures, such as through the " Asia Clinical Trials Network for Cancers Project (ATLAS project)" led by the National Cancer Center of Japan. NCC of Japan is actively working to implement cancer genomic medicine and develop drugs for rare cancers with hospitals and centers in Asia including Malaysia. I hope to see further development in this field.
Nowadays, R&D, manufacturing, and marketing of pharmaceuticals have become increasingly globalized. Therefore, it is essential for regulatory authorities in each country to cooperate and collaborate with each other in their activities. Asia, in particular, has become an important region in recent years as a hub for clinical development and the manufacturing of pharmaceuticals. From this perspective, I am pleased to hear that Japan’s Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Agency (PMDA) and Malaysia’s National Pharmaceutical Regulatory Agency (NPRA) successfully held the 2nd joint Japan-Malaysia symposium on pharmaceutical regulation last month, following the first symposium in 2015. I wish that our two countries continue to deepen the mutual cooperation and understanding in the area of pharmaceutical regulation and development.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
I have another reason to highlight joint efforts between Japan and Malaysia. This year is the 40th anniversary of the Look East Policy or LEP. The LEP in the past 40 years contributed "to develop human resources for the development of domestic industry in Malaysia.” And I hope that the LEP from now on should expand its scope and be developed to include cooperation in wider areas. Health sector is one of them. Today’s launch can be regarded as a good example of new partnership under the LEP.
We also pay attention to the statement of Malaysian Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Abdullah the other day mentioning "health diplomacy” as a priority for Malaysia. Japan has a lot of expertise in the health sector to offer to Malaysia. This is not limited to cancer treatment but includes measures for an aging society and universal health coverage. I hope that Japan-Malaysia relations will be further strengthened through exchange of expertise in the health sector and provide support to Malaysia’s” health diplomacy.”
Let me conclude my remarks by wishing once again this program to achieve a great success.
Thank you, Arigato and Terima Kasih.