(From left) UMSC medical director and consultant neurosurgeon Prof Datuk Dr Hari Chandran Thambinayagam explains the contents of a poster at the symposium’s showcase area to Norzaiton, Prof Noor Azuan, UM registrar Prof Ir Dr Abdul Aziz Abdul Raman and UM deputy vice-chancellor (Development) Prof Ir Dr Ramesh Singh Kuldip Singh. — SAMUEL ONG/The Star
It is not an easy task gathering around 150 specialists and getting them to attend a full-day symposium, especially if they not only have clinical duties, but also academic and research responsibilities.
And what more if the symposium is not even organised by their academic institution, but rather, the private hospital under it.
As Universiti Malaya Specialist Centre (UMSC) chief executive officer Norzaiton Sanusi noted: “Our specialists’ knowledge and expertise are truly invaluable; they are actually supermen and superwomen, to the fact that they are the same individuals who serve Universiti Malaya as lecturers, working with PPUM [Pusat Perubatan Universiti Malaya] as public university hospital doctors, and they are also with UMSC as consultants for their private clinical practice.
“Imagine, this all happens within 24 hours, and yet, they are here to share with all of us the experiences and breakthrough achievements in clinical practice under UMSC’s flagship event.”
She was speaking at the launch of UMSC’s first International Clinical Symposium held in Kuala Lumpur on Nov 14 (2024)– a forum she intends to make into UMSC’s annual signature event.
What sets this symposium apart, she pointed out, is its focus on quaternary healthcare.
This typically revolves around complex medical cases that are handled by a multidisciplinary team of doctors, who are often subspecialised in their own fields, which can involve less commonly-used procedures and equipment.
For example, among the topics discussed at the symposium were stereotactic radiosurgery for brain tumours, advancements in the management of lung cancer and perfecting the art of precision endoscopy in gastroenterology.
She said: “This year’s theme, Synergy in Quaternary Healthcare, was carefully chosen as it brings together the expertise, resources and advanced technologies needed to provide the highest level of care, towards a common goal of improving patient outcomes and advancing medical treatments.”
For future editions, Norzaiton hopes to have more topics covering more specialities, as well as the latest medical innovations and technology, and have more international speakers and attendees.
This year’s symposium featured various UMSC consultants, with two guest speakers from Singapore.
Her ambition is to make the symposium the largest gathering of specialists focusing on quaternary care.
UMSC is one of the few quaternary private hospitals in the country, thanks in large part to its symbiotic relationship with PPUM, known in English as Universiti Malaya Medical Centre (UMMC).
Speaking to StarHealth later, Norzaiton said: “We don’t see anyone as our competitor because we are in a different league.
“The way we manage is also different as we are in a university ecosystem.
“We offer to the healthcare market complex case treatment in a multidisciplinary environment with a cost which is reasonable and affordable.”
Starting out as UMMC’s private wing, UMSC was initially mooted as a way to prevent brain drain to the private sector by providing UMMC doctors a place to have an additional private practice.
In the 26 years since its founding, UMSC has now become a private hospital in its own right and will soon be expanding into a purpose-built building.
As UM vice-chancellor Professor Datuk Seri Ir Dr Noor Azuan Abu Osman said in his speech at the launch of the symposium: “UMSC is poised to expand its capacity and service offerings with a new facility.
“This is a significant step forward in our mission to provide world-class healthcare and to further strengthen UMSC’s position as a leader in quaternary care.
“The new hospital will not only enhance UMSC’s ability to provide specialised care, but will also serve as a centre for excellence in both clinical services and medical research.”
He added: “In this aspect, the role and functions of our best personnel in UMSC remain critical.
“I understand and I am well aware of some of the difficulties facing our consultants and our healthcare personnel in UMSC.
“Moving forward, we will ensure that our consultants and our personnel will have more flexibility in your work and your duties, as we want UMSC to remain the best platform in giving impact to the nation with your services and your expertise.”
Norzaiton shared that subject to final discussions with the Higher Education Ministry (which oversees UM), groundbreaking for the new hospital will begin in February (2025).
Located just across the street from the current building, the new hospital is expected to be ready to commence operations around 2028. – By Tan Shiow Chin
