It is a profound honor and a significant responsibility to serve as the Chair of the Global Harmonization Working Party (GHWP) at a time when the global medical device landscape is advancing at unprecedented speed. With this responsibility, we reaffirm our unwavering commitment to strengthening international harmonization, fostering regulatory convergence, and ensuring timely access to safe and effective medical devices for patients worldwide.
The medical device landscape is evolving at an unprecedented pace, and the GHWP must evolve with it. Our vision and mission remain clear to achieve international harmonization, promote agile regulatory convergence, and ensure global patient access to safe and effective medical technologies.
To elevate our global influence and operational efficiency, my leadership term will focus on a cohesive strategy that integrates decentralized governance through regional offices with robust capacity building via a new Regional Academy for regulatory excellence. We are committed to bridging the gap between global perspectives, ensuring a unified platform where diverse regional insights are valued, while simultaneously strengthening technical harmonization in areas such as nomenclature and reliance frameworks. By aligning these priorities, we will streamline intra-trade and create a more inclusive, high-performing regulatory ecosystem that resonates across every continent.
Achieving these ambitions requires strong and sustained support from all stakeholders, particularly industry partners, whose contributions are vital to building institutional capacity, strengthening technical collaboration, and expanding GHWP’s global reach. Together, these efforts will reinforce a regulatory ecosystem that benefits public health and supports innovation.
Ultimately, our work is guided by a shared commitment to global health and aligned with the objective of ensuring healthy lives and promoting well-being for all (UN Sustainable Development Goal 3). By advancing governance, capacity, inclusivity, and harmonization, we move closer to a future where patients everywhere benefit from safer, more accessible medical technologies.
On behalf of the GHWP leadership, I look forward to working closely with all members and partners to make this term impactful, collaborative, and transformative.
Ts. Dr. Muralitharan Paramasua
Chairman of Global Harmonization Working Party (GHWP) &
Chief Executive of Medical Device Authority (MDA) Malaysia