Bio Farma says new technology will help expand vaccines production and work on a hepatitis B vaccine as the country moves to launch a phased universal health care insurance program next year.

Saudi Arabia's Al-Jomiah Pharma Holding agreed to join Malaysian Biotechnology to build the nation's first vaccine-production facility, expected to be operational in 2016.

Malaysia’s National Pharmaceutical Control Board sees harmonization as opening doors for investment and local manufacturers to gain markets regionally and abroad.

Malaysia will ease into a new law requiring all medical devices be registered as the country ramps up oversight of its biomedical sector.