TheHEALTH January/February 2026 | Page 5

January-February. 2026 | The HEALTH
LOCAL NEWS

05

Flagship recognition

AFTER a multi-year assessment, evaluators selected Island Hospital in Malaysia as the first recipient of the Malaysia Flagship Medical Tourism Hospital( FMTH) title, recognising its ability to deliver safe, high-quality, and internationally competitive healthcare services.

The recognition positions Island Hospital as a benchmark for international patient care. The hospital completed a rigorous three-year evaluation assessing clinical quality, patient safety, experience, innovation and operational performance.
Launched in 2022, the programme was designed to identify hospitals capable of anchoring Malaysia ' s medical tourism growth. These hospitals represent the country on the global stage.
Health Minister Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad announced at an event at M Resort & Hotel Kuala Lumpur. The Malaysia Healthcare Travel Council( MHTC) under the Ministry of Health leads the programme. The Government of Malaysia supports it as part of the Malaysia Healthcare Travel Industry Blueprint 2021 – 2025.
Independent international and industry experts, including IQVIA( a multinational company providing information and technology services for the health industry) and Joint
Commission International( an organisation that accredits and certifies healthcare organisations internationally), conducted detailed evaluations covering clinical outcomes, patient safety, service experience, innovation, and operational excellence.
Island Hospital is a private specialist hospital located in Penang, offering advanced care for complex medical and surgical conditions. The hospital has more than 120 specialist doctors across multiple disciplines, including cardiology, oncology, orthopaedics, gastroenterology and neurology.
In addition to serving local patients, the hospital has built a structured ecosystem for medical travellers, supporting patients before arrival and throughout their recovery journey.
Its clinical governance and patient safety frameworks have received accreditation from the Australian Council on Healthcare Standards International and the Malaysian Society for Quality in Health.
The hospital also holds Australian Council on Healthcare Standards International( ACHSI) Centres of Excellence recognition in Cancer Care, Cardiology, and Gastroenterology— factors that contributed to its selection as a Facility Meeting the Highest standards.
" We are humbled by this recognition of Island Hospital ' s role in
Island Hospital
showcasing Malaysia Healthcare," said Island Hospital Chief Executive Officer Lim Kooi Ling.
" Since 2022, we have welcomed and treated about 700,000 international patients from more than 80 countries. This includes over 100 cities in Indonesia. The steady return of international patients after the pandemic shows continued trust in our teams, our partners and the Malaysian healthcare system.
“ Being part of IHH Healthcare Malaysia, one of the country ' s leading private healthcare providers, allows us to draw on shared expertise, digital tools and clinical collaboration. Our focus remains clear: to provide safe, reliable, and value-driven care while making the overall experience smoother and more reassuring for patients and their families.
" As a flagship medical tourism hospital, we will keep working with the
MEDICAL EXCELLENCE: The Penang-based hospital plays a key role in Malaysia ' s efforts to boost its medical tourism sector
Government and MHTC. Our goal is to strengthen Penang ' s and Malaysia ' s position as a preferred destination for healthcare."

Life-saving first for infant

A four-month-old baby boy is recovering after undergoing a liver transplant at Universiti Malaya Medical Centre( UMMC), making him the youngest recipient of the procedure in the country.
The high-risk surgery, carried out late last year, highlighted the hospital ' s advanced clinical capabilities and marked a significant step forward in paediatric transplant care. The infant, who weighed just 6.2 kilogrammes at the time of the operation, was suffering from acute liver failure and required urgent intervention.
Universiti Malaya vice-chancellor Noor Azuan Abu Osman said the achievement reflected the strength and dedication of the multidisciplinary medical team. He personally visited the child and met his parents after the surgery.
" This extraordinary success demonstrates world-class expertise, clinical precision at critical moments, as well as the strength of teamwork underpinned by humanitarian values and professional responsibility," he said in a statement.
Beyond the immediate clinical outcome, Noor Azuan said the case demonstrated how the university ' s research excellence has translated into tangible patient impact. He noted that the treatment framework used was based on findings published in Pediatric Surgery International.
He explained: " These UM research outcomes have been referenced and adopted globally. They have now proven successful in saving lives by clinical implementation at UMMC."
" This reflects the spirit of Universiti Malaya, where high-quality research, innovation and the highest global standards are reinforced within clinical
CLINICAL BREAKTHROUGH: The successful surgery highlights the role of advanced paediatric care and clinical research in treating life-threatening conditions
practice for the benefit of Malaysia and the world."
Following the procedure ' s success, the university announced plans to expand the number of operating theatres at UMMC. They will also upgrade infrastructure, critical care facilities and support systems for specialised teams. The announcement took place at a special ceremony recognising those involved in the surgery on Nov 25.
UMMC director Mohd Zulkiflee Abu Bakar said this was the country ' s first case of its kind, given the patient ' s age and condition.
" The infant suffered acute liver failure and collapsed minutes before surgery. He needed intensive treatment and resuscitation for over an hour in the Paediatric Intensive Care Unit," he said.
" After the team successfully stabilised him, they made a bold clinical decision to proceed with surgery. This decision ultimately saved his life."
The infant ' s father, Tan Hock Siong, expressed gratitude to the UMMC team and shared his hope for his child ' s continued recovery.- The HEALTH