NEWS & UPDATE

KUCHING

17 MARCH 2025

Sarawak Energy and Roche Pharmaceuticals Malaysia have formalised a partnership today through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to launch the ‘Empower HER’ Innovative Funding Model programme. This initiative adopts a stakeholder-inclusive co-funding approach to improve access to timely and innovative cancer care, ensuring financially challenged patients receive prompt treatment in public hospitals.

The Honourable Datuk Amar Professor Dr. Sim Kui Hian, Deputy Premier for Sarawak and Minister for Public Health, Housing and Local Government and The Honourable Dato Sri Hajah Fatimah Abdullah, Minister for Women, Childhood and Community Wellbeing Development of Sarawak graced the event which was held at Sarawak General Hospital.

Hajah Siti Aisah Adenan, Senior Vice President for Corporate Services signed on behalf of Sarawak Energy, while General Manager Deepti Saraf signed on behalf of Roche Malaysia. The MoU signing was witnessed by George Chapman, Sarawak Energy’s Senior Vice President for Legal and Compliance, and Logan Caragata, Chapter Lead, Government Affairs and Policy of Roche Malaysia respectively.

Sarawak Energy Group Chief Executive Officer Datuk Haji Sharbini Suhaili in his welcoming speech at the signing ceremony, said, “Sarawak Energy remains committed to contributing to initiatives that enhance healthcare services across Sarawak. Through our social investment efforts, we have supported various medical initiatives and community health programmes that focus on accessible healthcare, early disease detection and medical education for local communities.”

Under the ’Empower HER’ programme, breast cancer patients in Sarawak will benefit from this fund, reinforcing the company’s commitment to community development and healthcare accessibility.

By adopting a collaborative funding approach, the ‘Empower HER’ programme aims to ease financial costs and ensure equitable, timely and sustainable access to innovative neoadjuvant standard-of-care treatments for early-stage HER2 positive breast cancer patients. An initial group of 10 patients from lower M40 and B40 income groups will receive this fully funded cancer treatment at public hospitals in Sarawak.

“Sarawak Energy’s projects have contributed to socio-economic development by improving infrastructure and access to medical facilities in remote communities. We see the potential for this model to evolve into a scalable and sustainable ring-fenced fund, creating lasting benefits for the people of Sarawak,” said Sharbini.

For many in the public sector, particularly those from lower-income groups, financial constraints and complex funding processes often delay access to life-saving treatment, even when diagnosed early. This partnership seeks to address these challenges by ensuring patients receive timely and appropriate care, complete their pre-surgical treatment and improve their chances of recovery.

Sarawak Energy has supported healthcare accessibility through initiatives such as a collaboration with the ROSE Foundation to provide free cervical cancer screenings for 101 people in the Baleh community in August 2024 and cataract screening programmes benefitting 229 people since 2017.

“We are committed to strengthening access to timely and effective cancer treatment in Sarawak. Empower HER ensures that women patients receive the care they need when they need it, removing barriers that often delays access to treatments. Roche has also partnered with Sarawak General Hospital to launch three First in Human trials, enabling access and building capabilities for our healthcare ecosystem in Sarawak. We believe such public private partnerships are a critical success factor to building a more inclusive and sustainable healthcare system—one that puts patients first and delivers meaningful, long-term impact,” said Deepti Saraf, General Manager of Roche Malaysia.

"Every effort to improve access to effective treatment has the potential to change a patient’s journey. As healthcare providers, we see firsthand the challenges many women face in receiving timely care. Initiatives like Empower HER ensure that more patients, regardless of their circumstances, can receive the treatment they need, giving them a real chance at recovery and a better quality of life," said Dr. Ngian Hie Ung, Director of Sarawak General Hospital.

The ‘Empower HER’ programme lays the foundation for future healthcare initiatives to enhance the overall quality of life for more Sarawakians and drive long-term impact – contributing to a stronger, more sustainable healthcare ecosystem in Sarawak.

Signing on behalf of Sarawak Energy were Hajah Siti Aisah Adenan, Senior Vice President for Corporate Services and George Chapman, Senior Vice President for Legal & Compliance while Roche Malaysia was represented by its General Manager Deepti Saraf and Logan Caragata, Chapter Lead, Government Affairs and Policy of Roche Malaysia.

The Honourable Dr. Sim Kui Hian, Deputy Premier of Sarawak and Minister for Public Health, Housing and Local Government; The Honourable Dato Sri Hajah Fatimah Abdullah, Minister for Women, Childhood & Community Development of Sarawak; Dr Rohani Mat Bah, Deputy Director of State Health (Medical), Sarawak State Health Department; and Sarawak Energy Group Chief Executive Officer, Datuk Haji Sharbini Suhaili at the MoU signing ceremony

Launching of the ‘Empower HER’ Programme Innovative Funding Model programme.

Sarawak Energy also handed over a monetary contribution for the Tabung Kebajikan Perubatan Malaysia Hospital Umum Sarawak Support Grant.