In the field of health policy and advocacy, few figures stand as prominently as QMGPI Advisory Board member Emeritus Professor Dato’ Dr Visweswaran Navaratnam. With a career spanning decades and continents, his contributions have left an indelible mark on the landscape of global health policy.
Margaret Siu, a 4th-year medical student and policy associate at QMGPI, had the privilege of interviewing Professor Navaratnam, delving into his remarkable journey and gleaning insights into the world of health policy.
You can watch the full interview below:
Professor Navaratnam’s journey into research and policy advocacy began immediately after completing his degree. His early research in Neurological diseases and their implications to mental health laid the foundation for a career devoted to understanding the intricacies of health policy. He reached his first milestone when undertaking research on benzodiazepines and their clinical implications. This initial foray into research set the stage for a lifelong commitment to health policy issues.
Introducing clinical pharmacy into the Asian region, particularly in Malaysia, was a pivotal moment for Professor Navaratnam. He recognised the need to bridge the gap between clinicians and pharmacists, thus paving the way for improved patient care and interdisciplinary collaboration. The initiative marked a significant milestone in his career, demonstrating the importance of collaboration.
Professor Navaratnam’s career trajectory was shaped by his involvement in addressing pressing public health challenges, from infectious diseases like malaria and dengue to opiate, particularly heroin addiction and HIV. His role as a senior advisor on drug policy to the Malaysian Minister of Home Affairs exemplified his commitment to integrating health considerations into national policy frameworks. He also played a key role in international organisations such as the World Health Organisation and the United Nations Commission on Narcotic Drugs, advocating for evidence-based approaches to drug control and addiction treatment.
Throughout his career, Professor Navaratnam encountered numerous challenges in policy advocacy and implementation. One of the most significant hurdles to take was overcoming the perception of policy as merely being administrative. He emphasized the importance of translating research into actionable policies and the need for policymakers to understand the value of evidence-based decision-making. Stressing that navigating cultural differences and stubborn attitudes can pose challenges in international policy discussions, he highlighted the importance of adaptability and open-mindedness in fostering effective collaborations.
Professor Navaratnam also highlighted the impact of technological advancements such as Artificial Intelligence (AI). New technologies lead to significant changes in health treatments and call for an adaptation of policies. He further stressed the importance of training healthcare professionals to not merely follow a rule book but to critically assess the applicability of treatment options based on individual patient needs.
Drawing from his experiences working with the World Health Organisation (WHO) in South East Asia, particularly in India, he also addressed the challenge of integrating traditional knowledge and traditional medicine into modern healthcare practices. Emphasizing the importance of respecting and understanding traditional practices and acknowledging their potential therapeutic benefits, he voiced the need for further research in this area.
Professor Navaratnam described the complex relationship between other factors and health and urged policymakers to consider the broader consequences of multidimensional factors contributing to health issues, such as genetic predispositions, environmental factors, and living conditions. In developing policies, it is essential to obtain the inputs of the target communities to ensure that it generates the expected impact.
For students aspiring to enter the policy sector, especially in global health and health policy, he underlined the importance of open-mindedness and curiosity. He encouraged aspiring professionals to not only focus on developing health policies but to understand the broader societal and environmental factors influencing health outcomes. This entails engaging with different communities and adapting policies to their specific needs and capacities.
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