PETALING JAYA: CIMB Foundation today contributed a top-of-the-line eye imaging machine to University Malaya Medical Centre (UMMC).
The RM1.3 million machine is expected to treat 50,000 patients annually, alleviating the industry shortage of cutting-edge medical equipment for critical eye-related diseases.
CIMB Foundation acting chief executive officer Ahmad Shahriman Mohd Shariff presented it to UMMC director Professor Dr Nazirah Hasnan.
Present was CIMB Group Corporate Responsibility head Rositah Mariam Sulaiman and the consultants, specialists and staff of UMMC's Ophthalmology Department.
"This machine is in support of UMMC's ongoing efforts to deliver high-quality and superior care to treat close to 50,000 patients with critical eye-related diseases annually," said Shahriman.
He said as an organisation that strove to build greater resilience for the community, CIMB Foundation championed initiatives that enhance and contribute towards sustainable and long-term positive impacts to society.
"As such, we are pleased to do our part in providing the much-needed support to UMMC in addressing shortages in the healthcare sector, while assisting medical practitioners in treating one of the country's critical diseases using the Heidelberg Spectralis HRA+OCT SHIFT (imaging platform).
"We hope our contribution will enable medical practitioners to advance the study and treatments in ophthalmology for the benefit of all Malaysians, giving them the best and most personalised care for eye-related diseases with ease."
Dr Nazirah said the machine was one of many medical advancements in the field of ophthalmology.
"We are grateful to the CIMB Foundation for this top-of-the-line machine that would make us on par at the international level, in terms of not just clinical service but also teaching and research.
"As a teaching university and an academic medical centre, we focus on teaching and research, as well as clinical service, to support the needs for teaching and research.
"Great care will be taken to ensure this technology serves UMMC patients and specialists for many years to come.
"We hope society will appreciate and acknowledge the importance of eye care and ocular health," she said.
UM Specialist Centre Consultant Ophthalmologist Associate Professor Dr Tajunisah Iqbal said the machine reduced the length of time eye doctors spent with patients.
"It allows us to see more patients in the limited time we have.
"It also gives a more accurate diagnosis for patients, allowing us to offer optimum treatment for patients.
"We spend between 20 and 25 minutes per patient, but with this machine, we can get the image immediately."
Dr Tajunisah added: "The machine also increases our clinical expertise and we can do more research-based things, on par with the global level."