KOTA SAMARAHAN, Nov 16 — The Sarawak Infectious Diseases Centre (SIDC) is another example of the Sarawak government’s commitment to enhance its biomedical capabilities to look after the wellbeing of Sarawakians.

Chief Minister Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg said the initiative was also in line with Sarawak’s initiatives to develop its biomedical industry under the Post-COVID-19 Development Strategy (PCDS 2030) and set the foundation for the state to be at the forefront of biotherapeutics development using local natural resources.

“It is envisaged that the establishment of the SIDC will catalyse the development of biomedical industries in Sarawak, being the start of a biohub (that would be) integrating hospitals, a research centre, academia and a biopark.

“SIDC will also provide a complete pipeline from discovery to testing and clinical trials through to the production plus human capital training to provide a highly-skilled workforce for the biomedical industry,” he said in his speech at the SIDC project’s earth breaking ceremony here today.

Also present was Sarawak Minister of Education, Science and Technological Research Datuk Amar Micheal Manyin.

Abang Johari said SIDC would be a focal point for an ecosystem that would accelerate the economic growth and human capital development in the biomedical sector for Sarawak.

“This is a timely project as we need to develop our own capabilities and expertise in preparation for any future outbreaks (of infectious diseases),” he said.

SIDC would be a research facility under the purview of the Sarawak Research and Development Council (SRDC).

Since its launch in July this year, the SIDC has undertaken a vaccine serology study to establish the effectiveness of the state’s COVID-19 vaccination programme and to provide direction for the vaccination policy in the state.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency