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Round table forum on “Evidence based policy making to enhance public health outcomes:
Re-engineering networking for scientist”
16th March 2017
Associate Prof. Dr Siti Nursheena Mohd Zain
A roundtable forum was held in conjunction with the MSPTM General Meeting on the 16th March 2017 at the auditorium, Institute of Postgraduate Studies, University of Malaya. This special occasion was graced by the Prof. Norsaadah Abdul Rahman, Deputy of Vice Chancellor, Research and Innovation, University of Malaya. This is the first time such an event was organized by MSPTM in collaboration with the University Malaya Research Clusters and Institute of Biological Sciences University of Malaya. This roundtable forum was an initiative by the society to bring academicians, students and researchers from various universities (UM, USM, UniKL, TAR, UMS, UPM) and research institutions (VRI and IMR) and officials from Ministries (Ministry of Health Malaysia, Ministry of Human Resource (Policy Division), Ministry of Home Affairs (Migrant Workers) and agency FOMEMA all together under one space in the effort to translate current scientific research findings into national policies. A total of 72 participated in this event to deliberate on two pressing issues i.e., parasitic infections among migrant workers and vector borne diseases. The migrant worker session was moderated by Prof. Dr. Yvonne Lim Ai Lian, Deputy Dean (Research) from Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya and Prof Dr Stephen Ambu, from International Medical University in the vector borne disease session.
The discussions opened in parallel sessions with a 15-minute slide presentation to highlight current scientific findings in this two key areas prior to deliberations by all stakeholders. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Siti Nursheena Mohd Zain shared her current team’s work on the parasitic diseases in migrant worker while Datin Prof Dr Indra Vythilingam shared her vast experience in the field of vector biology and control for the past 30 years particularly on dengue. The summary outcomes from both sessions were then shared with all the participants back in the main auditorium before the closing ceremony. Dr Chandrawathani closed the ceremony by announcing the recipient of this year’s Natchatram (Dr Chan Chee Dhang) and Sandosham (Prof Suresh Kumar Govind) medal winners. The day ended with high tea before the members adjourned for the AGM.