MALAYSIA is a country where heartworm disease remains an important veterinary concern. However, since September 2026, Immiticide (melarsomine), a well-established drug that has been used for decades in the treatment of the disease, has been discontinued in our market.
Hence, despite the ongoing need for this medication, its commercial viability may no longer be sufficient to justify its continued availability locally.
This is just one example of the challenges Malaysian veterinarians face. It also highlights an important reality: international consensus guidelines do not always translate directly into local clinical practice.
We have to interpret these recommendations within the realities of our own circumstances and adapt our clinical decisions accordingly. After all, there are treatments we simply cannot offer because the necessary medications are not available to us.
We have to admit that we are not blessed with access to a wide range of veterinary medications, unlike our neighbour, Singapore. As a relatively open market, Singapore generally offers veterinarians easier access to a broader range of medications, including newer veterinary products.
Many essential veterinary drugs remain unavailable in Malaysia largely due to limited market demand and concerns over profit margins.
The limitations extend across various fields of veterinary medicine. In veterinary cardiology, for instance, torasemide, a more potent loop diuretic than furosemide, is not readily available in Malaysia.
Having access to such medications could make a significant difference in managing certain cardiac conditions.
Compounding pharmacies have, to some extent, helped bridge these gaps. However, questions remain about the efficacy, consistency and bioavailability of compounded medications, particularly when supporting pharmacological studies and clinical evidence are limited.
As a result, Malaysian veterinarians are often left with little choice but to think outside the box, explore alternatives and adapt their treatment strategies within the limitations of the resources available.
Perhaps this is where the spirit of Malaysia Boleh truly shines. Malaysian veterinarians are quick-witted, resourceful and remarkably adaptable. We learn to adjust to circumstances, make the best of what is available and find solutions when conventional options are out of reach.
Of course, working in an environment where almost everything is readily accessible has its advantages. But perhaps when every solution is already at our fingertips, there is less pressure to develop the same level of ingenuity and creative problem-solving that comes from working around limitations.
Necessity has made us adaptable. Challenges have made us innovative. Limitations have taught us to think differently. Perhaps that is one of the defining strengths of Malaysian veterinarians.
We may not have everything at our fingertips, but we certainly know how to make things work.
Malaysia Boleh!
DR ANTHONY LEONG
Veterinarian
Kuala Lumpur
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