HCTM ’ s ambitious Health Technopolis set to pioneer the future of healthcare in Malaysia
Cover Story
08 The HEALTH | May-June . 2024
Guiding Malaysia ’ s healthcare reform
HCTM ’ s ambitious Health Technopolis set to pioneer the future of healthcare in Malaysia
BY KHIRTINI K KUMARAN
MALAYSIA ’ S healthcare system must evolve to meet the needs of its populace as the country continues its journey toward becoming a developed nation with a sophisticated and globalised economy .
At the forefront of this evolution is the UKM Health Technopolis , an ambitious project that aims to revolutionise the country ’ s healthcare landscape .
Hospital Canselor Tuanku Mukhriz ( HCTM ) Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia ( UKM ) Kuala Lumpur Campus Pro-Vice-Chancellor Prof Datuk Dr Hanafiah Harunarashid shared insights into UKM Health Technopolis ’ s vision and strategic goals .
“ The UKM Health Technopolis is poised to be one of the institutional pillars guiding Malaysia ’ s healthcare reform ,” he explained .
�r�� Datuk Dr Hanafiah Harunarashid
“ Our goal is to create a holistic and sustainable health innovation ecosystem that integrates medical and educational hubs with a business district , providing a one-stop centre for healthcare and health investment .”
A COMPREHENSIVE HEALTH ECOSYSTEM
The UKM Health Technopolis aims to foster a concentration of innovation , cutting-edge technology , research , training , and services within a single integrated campus .
This initiative will enhance the nation ’ s technological capacity and improve self-reliance in
addressing future healthcare challenges . The Technopolis will include a healthcare precinct featuring one of Malaysia ’ s top general and specialist hospitals . This will be complemented by world-class biomedical and pharmaceutical laboratories , potentially equipped with 5G technology .
“ The UKM Healthcare Technopolis will allow UKM and Malaysia to provide the best care for local and foreign patients .
“ It is envisaged that the Technopolis will be able to attract the brightest minds in the country and help to tackle the issue of a brain drain that is faced by the public healthcare system in particular .”
Moreover , the Technopolis will drive investment and marketability through research and development ( R & D ) of traditional and complementary medicine ( TCM ), a field in which UKM has already made significant strides .
It will also house a Centre of Excellence , fostering extensive collaboration with the National Institutes of Health ( NIH ) and international organisations , thereby promoting the sharing of insights and pooling of resources on a global scale .
EMBRACING DIGITAL HEALTH
Digital health is a rapidly evolving field , often misunderstood as merely using high-tech digital medicine or precision medicine . At UKM ’ s Healthcare Technopolis , digitalisation