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Halal Health
@ Halal | March-April . 2022
Exploring the halal eco-pharmaceutical path Jardin Pharma sets up Malaysia ’ s first probiotic research centre
BY FATIHAH MANAF
THE PHARMACEUTICAL industry is considered a highly profitable sector , with more players now coming in to set up their businesses in the sector . Risks and opportunities available amidst the pandemic have urged pharmaceutical companies to be more innovative and creative . Incorporating the halal agenda in their business operations may open more opportunities for these companies to champion the industry that prioritises safety and hygiene .
Taking pride in combining nature and science to create cutting-edge pharmaceutical products , Jardin Pharma aims to be the leading and trusted halal eco-pharmaceutical brand in Malaysia ’ s pharmaceutical industry .
The Co-Founder of Jadin Pharma , Dr Maryam Aziz , revealed that being a Muslim had motivated her to incorporate halal in Jardin Pharma ’ s business model . She also believed that halal was a booming market .
Focusing on manufacturing
Focusing on halal pharmaceuticals , Dr Maryam said : “ We had to comply with the halal regulations and registration of halal pharmaceutical products . It is something that is not very hard to comply with once we are in the business .”
Dr Maryam shared that she had experiences of managing her own cosmetics factory and doing contract manufacturing with other factories . Based on these experiences , she believed that getting the halalcertified status was not that hard , but doing contract-manufacturing with other companies might lengthen the overall process of obtaining the halal certification .
“ So , that is why in Jardin Pharma , we are focusing more on establishing manufacturing plants . We already have a cosmetics factory . We are in the process of buying a pharmaceutical factory , and we are planning to start our botanical extraction facility .
“ We have launched our probiotic centre where we produce our probiotics . We are also building our food factory . We are focusing on manufacturing raw materials . Probiotics are raw materials . When you focus more on the manufacturing part , it is easier to comply with all the halal regulations ,” she explained .
Awareness of halal pharmaceutical products
Dr Maryam said most people were rarely aware of the pharmaceutical products themselves , not just their halal status . As a doctor , she met with a fair share of patients who just described their medicines by the shape of the packaging or the size of capsules they usually consumed .
“ It is not a question of whether they are aware of the halal status of pharmaceutical products ; they are not aware of the drug itself ,” she said , adding that Jardin Pharma
did not only focus on the pharmaceutical products but also nutraceutical products , superfood , and health supplements .
However , Dr Maryam agreed Malaysians were becoming more aware of the halal status of these pharmaceutical products as some of them expressed their concern on the halal status of the Covid-19 vaccines during the mass vaccination programme .
“ I ’ m not saying that the public is unaware of the halal status of pharmaceutical products . They may probably not be at par with the Middle East or European population , but they are getting there . They are starting to be aware .
“ So , in Jardin Pharma , we have to focus more on edu-marketing . When we market our product , we have to educate them .”
Setting up a sustainable company
Setting up a new business was already challenging , but sustaining it would require extra effort and a strategic plan . Dr Maryam revealed that Jardin Pharma started by focusing on the ‘ easiest product category ’ as a relatively new company . “ When we talk about a pharmaceutical company , we have a few product classifications . We cater from cosmeceutical products , personal care products , food supplements , and the most superior is the pharmaceutical products . “ So , what we do is , because we are a relatively new company , we start from the easiest classification or the easiest product category . For example , I ’ ve mentioned before that getting halal certification for nutritional supplements , personal care products , and cosmeceutical products is easy .
“ So , we focus more on those as base and filler products . But , at the same time , we are also focusing on pharmaceutical products , which probably would generate revenue at a later stage .”
She said the strategy to start with the more straightforward category was also part of the company ’ s sustainable plan . She hoped one day Jardin
Pharma would reach a stage where they could produce halal vaccines , halal injectables and halal pharmaceutical products .
Importance of innovation and technological advancement
Dr Maryam stated that innovation was essential for pharmaceutical companies in general as it served as a competing point that differentiates one company from another .
“ We focus more on R & D . In Malaysia , the R & D activity is not being done extensively because of the big funding needed , and we need a lot of time to produce research . So , what we do is , for Jardin Pharma , we work closely with local universities to conduct research in the pharmaceutical niche .
“ We get innovative and novel products from them . As for us , we focus more on manufacturing and registering the products as halal products and commercialising . So that is the strategy that we use . Innovative products are essential ,” she said .
Aside from contract manufacturing , Dr Maryam shared that Jardin Pharma also wanted to conduct contract research for interested companies and entrepreneurs . By doing the contract research , Jardin Pharma would produce good products for these businesses that complied with the National Pharmaceutical Regulatory Agency ( NPRA ) and halal regulations .
Some of Jardin Pharma ’ s products available in the market are Mary Jardin and Honey & Olive Baby . The company also planned to launch a series of natural gummy supplements for kids soon . These products can be purchased online at herbitus . com .
So , in Jardin Pharma , we have to focus more on edu-marketing . When we market our product , we have to educate them .” — Dr Maryam Aziz