Successful Conclusion Of the 1st Asean Health Primary Care Symposium

A crucial step towards elevating primary care standards across the region

Kuala Lumpur, 6 September 2024 – The 1st ASEAN Health Primary Care Symposium recently came to a successful close at the prestigious Renaissance Hotel in Kuala Lumpur. This landmark event represented a crucial step forward in the ongoing professional development of healthcare providers across the ASEAN region. At the symposium, prominent experts and medical practitioners convened to delve into the most recent breakthroughs in the treatment and management of pharyngitis and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).

Accredited by the Malaysia Medical Association (MMA) and the Malaysia Pharmacists Society (MPS), this event underscored the importance of ongoing medical education in enhancing the knowledge and skills of healthcare professionals. With the support of Reckitt, a company committed to providing high-standard educational programs underpinned by the latest scientific updates, the symposium offered a platform for in-depth discussions on current challenges in primary care.

The event was packed with a lineup of thought-provoking sessions led by renowned global and regional speakers. These engaging sessions delved deep into the latest consensus statements and clinical evidence concerning the management of pharyngitis and GERD, spotlighting real-world patient case studies to provide practical insights. Attendees were able to actively participate in robust discussions, share their experiences, and contribute to a collaborative learning environment that encouraged knowledge exchange and networking.

The symposium shed light on a critical issue regarding the excessive and unnecessary use of proton pump inhibitors (PPIs), revealing their association with heightened health risks and safety concerns. Specialists delved into the most recent evidence underscoring the potential hazards of overusing PPIs and emphasised the crucial role of prescribing practices in mitigating these risks.

Another critical topic of discussion was the overuse of antibiotics and its contribution to the growing global threat of antimicrobial resistance. Speakers emphasised the urgent need for healthcare providers to exercise caution in antibiotic prescribing to mitigate the risk of resistance and preserve the efficacy of these vital medications.

According to recent estimates by the World Health Organisation (WHO), in 2019, 1.27 million deaths were directly attributed to drug-resistant infections globally. By 2050, up to 10 million deaths could occur annually. AMR puts many of the gains of modern medicine at risk. It makes infections harder to treat and makes other medical procedures and treatments – such as surgery, caesarean sections and cancer chemotherapy – much riskier.

The world faces an antibiotics pipeline and access crisis. There is an inadequate research and development pipeline in the face of rising levels of resistance, and urgent need for additional measures to ensure equitable access to new and existing vaccines, diagnostics and medicines.

Commenting on the success of the symposium, Tiffany Tang, Marketing Director for Health and Hygiene, Malaysia, Singapore at Reckitt, stated, “Reckitt is proud to support this Continuing Medical Education program in partnership with medical societies. We believe that by providing healthcare professionals with access to the latest scientific updates and expert insights, we can help raise the standard of primary care across the ASEAN region. This symposium is a testament to our commitment to ensuring that educational programs are conducted with the highest ethical standards and in alignment with the latest clinical evidence.”

The 1st ASEAN Health Primary Care Symposium has set a new benchmark for medical education in the region, leaving participants better equipped to address the complex challenges of modern primary care. As the event drew to a close, there was a shared sense of determination among attendees to implement the knowledge gained in their clinical practice, ultimately improving patient outcomes across the ASEAN region.