BY KAY MATHY

S Malaysia’ s healthcare landscape evolves, UTAR Hospital has emerged as a pioneering institution that seamlessly integrates modern medicine with Traditional and Complementary Medicine( T & CM).

Chief Executive Officer( CEO) and Medical Director of UTAR Hospital Datuk Dr Ding Lay Ming shared the hospital’ s mission, challenges, and aspirations.

Built on the same ethos as Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman( UTAR), the hospital is committed to providing accessible and affordable healthcare, particularly for communities in and around Kampar.

By offering both specialist medical care and time-honored healing traditions such as Chinese, Ayurvedic, and Malay medicine, UTAR Hospital is redefining holistic patient care in Malaysia.

Despite the complexities of integrating two distinct medical approaches, UTAR Hospital remains steadfast in its goal: to create a healthcare model where modern science and traditional wisdom work hand in hand for the benefit of all.

FOR THE PEOPLE

UTAR Hospital was established with the same philosophy as Universiti Tengku Abdul Rahman( UTAR): to provide quality services to those who may not have access to expensive alternatives.

“ The pioneers who set up UTAR had the vision to provide affordable education, and the same ethos was applied to healthcare,” explained Datuk Dr Ding.

“ This hospital was built

by the people, for the people, with the core mission of ensuring that healthcare remains accessible, particularly for the communities in and around Kampar.”

Specialist care, often unavailable in smaller towns, is now within reach for residents of Perak’ s southern region. The hospital prioritises patientcentred care, ensuring that individuals receive medical attention as close to home as possible.

OVERCOMING CHALLENGES

UTAR Hospital uniquely houses two key healthcare components: a modern medical centre and a T & CM division. While this integration brings immense benefits, it also presents challenges.

“ Blending Western and traditional medicine practices is not easy. But we designed this hospital with the intention of ensuring these two approaches complement each other,” explained Dr Ding.

| April. 2025

The T & CM division began operations in 2022, a year before the medical centre launched in August 2023. The hospital has since worked diligently to ensure a smooth collaboration between the two.

“ Different patients come with different healthcare needs. There is a growing demand for traditional medicine- Chinese, Ayurvedic, and Malay traditional medicine. Our goal is to balance and align these approaches to ensure comprehensive patient care.”

SEAMLESS INTEGRATION

To ensure the best outcomes, UTAR Hospital has established a structured referral system between its two divisions. Patients seeking traditional treatments may still require modern medical intervention.

“ Our practitioners refer cases requiring emergency or specialised medical attention to our Emergency Department, where our physicians conduct a thorough review and provide appropriate treatment,” Datuk Dr Ling explained.

Clear guidelines ensure that both arms of healthcare work in tandem for the well-being of patients.

As a not-for-profit entity, UTAR Hospital operates under the UTAR Education Foundation and relies heavily on donations.

“ Our model is unique. All profits are reinvested into the hospital’ s development, ensuring continuous improvement,” said Dr Ding.

Maintaining financial stability while keeping healthcare affordable is a delicate balance.

“ We adopt a businessconscious approach to sustain operations. Our pricing structure reflects actual service costs with a minimal margin, allowing us to remain competitive while serving those in need,” she added.

Dr Ding