Research Institutes, Centres and Units - Universiti Sains Malaysia

National Poison Centre
The National Poison Centre, or more popularly known as Pusat Racun Negara (PRN),
celebrates its 16 th year in 2010. PRN was set up in 1994 with a primary function to
serve as a referral centre for drug and poison information to support the national
health service and general public. Over one-and-a-half decade later, PRN’s services has
expanded to include providing training, consultancy services to both local and foreign
agencies on health-related matters, using ICT to enhance multimedia products and
educational tools, research studies, and other related activities in support of the national
and institutional aspirations. While continuing to provide consultations for drug and
poison, which remains the centre’s core business, PRN’s more contemporary activities
are geared towards engagements with the public, industry, private and government
organisations, schools and other educational institutions.
Mission
“To reduce the morbidity, mortality, cost and occurrence of poisoning in a manner that
strives for excellence, compassion and innovation.”
Some of PRN’s projects, past and present, include:
1.The setting up of the Clearinghouse for Tobacco Control and Research Network
for Tobacco Control to strengthen tobacco control advocacy work. The project
was funded by the Rockefeller Foundation, New York.
2.Commissioned by the Cancer Council Victoria, Roswell Park Cancer Institute and
University of Waterloo to conduct a 5-year (2005 – 2010) cohort study to evaluate
the behavioral and psycho-social impact of smokers alongside other countries which
include Thailand, USA, Australia, UK, Ireland, Mexico, Uruguay, China, Korea and Sudan.
3.PRN is also a prime mover of ‘Program Intervensi Mengurangkan Tabiat Merokok
untuk pelajar IKBN (Institut Kemahiran Belia Negara)’. This pilot program aims to
help students in the said institute to quit smoking in a targeted period between
September 2009 to March 2010.
4.PRN also provides training to WHO Fellows on toxicology and drug information
service. Since 1995, dozens of health personnel from China, Vietnam, Pakistan,
India, Bangladesh, Mongolia, Nepal, Fiji, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, have benefitted
from such training and interactions. Similar training is also provided to local health