KUALA LUMPUR: Kanger International Bhd, via subsidiary Kanger Medical International Sdn Bhd, has partnered with Sparmak Medical Equipment Trading LLC to buy Sinopharm Covid-19 vaccines manufactured in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
Kanger plans to buy five million vaccine doses with deliveries commencing by end of this monht, the earliest, after entering into a binding and conditional heads of agreement (HoA) with Sparmak Medical, an authorised partner of G42 Medications Trading LLC (G42).
The HoA also provides Kanger an option to subsequently procure an additional five million vaccine doses from Sparmak Medical.
Kanger executive director Steven Kuah Choon Ching said the HoA marked the beginning of a long-term strategic venture to commence the distribution of the made-in-UAE vaccines into Malaysia.
"Amid the limited supply of vaccines and surging cases, we believe it is vital to look for alternative sources of supply to expedite the vaccination efforts in Malaysia.
"With a steady supply of vaccines, we are confident that the government of Malaysia is able to achieve its target of having 80 per cent of Malaysians vaccinated by December 2021," Kuah said in a statement today.
Earlier this year, Sinopharm entered into a joint venture with UAE-based G42 to produce the Sinopharm Covid-19 vaccines in the country under the Hayat-Vax brand.
The made-in-UAE vaccine was the first Covid-19 vaccine to be produced in the Arab world.
"The Hayat-Vax vaccine is essentially the same Sinopharm Covid-19 vaccine, manufactured in the UAE. Hence, we are confident that it will be well-received and accepted by the Malaysian people as an effective vaccine towards the global fight against the Covid-19 pandemic," said Kuah.
He said Sinopharm Covid-19 vaccine had recently been granted conditional approval for use in Malaysia and was now included in the national vaccination programme.
"Moreover, the private Covid-19 vaccine market is expected to commence in August 2021, which will allow industry players to purchase their own vaccine supplies. These developments are positive steps towards the group's plans in expanding into the healthcare segment," he added.
Kanger has also been authorised by G42 to be the product registration holder and distributor of the Hayat-Vax vaccine in Malaysia.
On behalf of G42 Medications, Kanger said it had submitted applications to obtain the required approvals from the National Pharmaceutical Regulatory Agency for the Hayat-Vax vaccine to be used in Malaysia.