Task force members of the ASEAN Network for Drug, Diagnostics, and Vaccines Innovation (ASEAN-NDI) held a teleconference at the Asian Institute of Management (AIM) in Makati City last February 28, 2012 to review its draft Strategic Business Plan (SBP).

“The meeting was called to provide the task force members information on the progress of the SBP project. It also aims to gather reactions and post clarifications on the questionnaire provided prior to the meeting to make sure that the draft report for the project will address issues applicable to most of the countries,” explained Professor Federico Macaranas of AIM, SBP program leader and moderator of the meeting.

The discussion raised concerns relating to governance and protocols for knowledge sharing since rules in joining a network is unique for each country. A better understanding on the concepts and use of knowledge management was deemed crucial for the generation, sharing and application of information in research. Inter-ministry collaboration, engagement of multi-stakeholders and partnerships with private sector were stated as strategies to address financial resource challenges and information gaps.

The members proposed to include communicable diseases, diabetes mellitus, heart diseases, cancer, Hepatitis C, HIV, influenza, tuberculosis, injuries, vaccine-preventable conditions and emerging diseases in the scope of disease coverage.

In order to attract funds, the group agreed that a hub and spoke model will be ASEAN-NDI’s working structure. Through this, the network can strengthen negotiations with other ASEAN clusters and persuade governments to fund R&D in view of its impact across the region. “This Strategic Business Plan will call for better negotiation and leverage each country’s strengths. Instead of doing things alone, we will be able to benefit from collective wisdom and energy of each member country,” concluded Professor Macaranas.

Seven out of ten task force members participated in the meeting including: Dr. Siti Hanna Muharram of Brunei Darusalam, Dr. Bun Sreng of Cambodia, Dr. Pooi-Fong Wong of Malaysia, Dr. Jaime C. Montoya of Philippines, Professor Ren Ee Chee of Singapore, Ms. Monta Thammasatta of Thailand, and Dr. Ta Thi Tinh and Dr. Nguyen Quang Dung of Vietnam. Dr. Bernadette Ramirez, Scientist of the World Health Organization Special Programme for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases (WHO-TDR) served as an observer in the discussion.

“For the next consultation meeting, we will report where we are so far, what we have done and what remains to be done  in the development of a very good SBP for ASEAN-NDI,” informed Dr. Montoya.