HSA cooperates with Korea to upgrade public health

Signs MOU that ensures safety, quality and efficacy of health products in Singapore and Korea.

Singapore's Health Sciences Authority (HSA) on Monday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Korea Food and Drug Administration (KFDA) of the Republic of Korea at the Istana, Singapore, according to an HSA report.

The MOU signing ceremony was presided over by the Prime Minister of Singapore, Mr Lee Hsien Loong, and the President of the Republic of Korea, His Excellency Lee Myung-bak, who witnessed the signing between Dr John Lim, Chief Executive Officer of HSA and Mr Noh Yun-hong, Commissioner of KFDA.

As the national health products regulators, both the HSA and the KFDA seek to protect the public health and safety of their respective nations by ensuring the safety, quality and efficacy of health products manufactured in, imported into and exported from Singapore and Korea. This MOU formalises the bilateral exchanges and deepens the engagement of both agencies in the area of health products regulation.

The newly inked MOU enhances exchange of information on regulatory information such as product approvals and recalls, provides collaborative opportunities in joint training, and on-site inspections of manufacturing facilities in relation to any safety issues.

Said Dr John Lim, "HSA has always recognised the value of being a networked regulator and has been actively establishing MOUs with our key health product regulatory counterparts over the past few years. We are most delighted that we have now deepened and strengthened our partnership with the KFDA through the signing of this MOU. It establishes a common platform for open sharing of regulatory updates and regular dialogues between our two agencies. Prompt information exchange ensures that our agencies are staying abreast of regulatory issues and challenges, and allows us to work closely to be even more responsive and ready to promote public health and safety effectively within our respective jurisdictions and at a global level."

"Singapore's biomedical sector is one of its key pillars for economic growth while Korea, through its KFDA, has made tremendous efforts to secure the safety and support the nurturing of such new growth areas including in Biosimilars, cosmetics and medical devices. Therefore, I strongly believe that the conclusion of the MOU will lay the groundwork for our two countries to achieve these goals. I hope KFDA and HSA will continue to enjoy an amicable relationship and goodwill to bring about win-win results that are beneficial to public health,"said Mr Noh Yun-hong.