SARAWAK is intensifying efforts to position itself as a regional hub for biomedical research and precision medicine, with the Sarawak Infectious Disease Centre (SIDC) headquarters now reaching 80 per cent completion.
Education, Innovation and Talent Development Minister Datuk Seri Roland Sagah Wee Inn said the state government has invested RM143 million into SIDC’s development as part of Sarawak’s long-term strategy to strengthen healthcare innovation, vaccine research and infectious disease surveillance.
He said RM33 million had been allocated this year alone for programmes involving tuberculosis, cervical cancer elimination and vaccine development.
“SIDC is conducting active surveillance for tuberculosis, malaria, dengue, Human Papillomavirus (HPV), rabies, filariasis and other infectious diseases statewide,” he said in his ministerial winding-up speech at the Sarawak Legislative Assembly (DUN) sitting here today (May 18).
The Tarat Assemblyman added that the centre plans to expand statewide disease surveillance programmes further by the end of 2026 to strengthen prevention and early detection efforts.
“SIDC has strengthened international collaborations with selected universities in Germany, Thailand, Australia and the United Kingdom,” he said.
He said SIDC also became the first institution in ASEAN operating the AXINON NMR system, a modular software-based platform designed for automated clinical diagnostics services.
“SIDC leads the Sarawak Vaccine Development Programme under VaxBioD 2026-2030 and is advancing genomic sequencing for precision medicine in Sarawak alongside Estonia,” he said.
“The state government remains committed towards strengthening biomedical research, vaccine innovation and advanced healthcare technology development for Sarawak’s future healthcare landscape,”he said.
He added that the initiatives demonstrated Sarawak’s continued commitment towards positioning itself as a regional leader in biomedical research, vaccine innovation and precision medicine development.
