KUALA LUMPUR: Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS) is set to expand on its collaboration with the Royal College of Surgeons of Ireland (RCSI), the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh (RCSEd) and King's College Hospital London in the field of remote humanitarian healthcare.
UNIMAS is hoping to leverage on its expertise and resources to make a meaningful impact on the health and well-being people, especially in Sarawak, by exploring new avenues of collaboration with the three prestigious institutions.
RCSEd has collaborated with UNIMAS over the last decade as one of the exam centre for the Membership of Royal College of Surgeons (MRCS).
In a statement today, UNIMAS - which has played a pivotal part in fulfilling the training of medical students, said it will be collaborating with RSCI especially on surgical based postgraduate training and development.
It said Malaysia has invested heavily in building a robust healthcare system, and this had led to significant overall improvements in the sector in recent years.
However, the varsity also noted that the shortage of doctors in Sarawak had been a persistent problem, especially in rural areas, where healthcare facilities are often limited and the population is dispersed over a large geographical area.
It said the Sarawak government, through Yayasan Sarawak had played its part by ensuring 40 locals were sent to study in the medical program at UNIMAS annually.
"These efforts have yielded some positive results, but more needs to be done to ensure that there is a sufficient number of doctors, especially specialist doctors, to meet the population's healthcare needs.
"The state government has allocated substantial funds to upgrade and modernise healthcare facilities, especially in rural areas.
"The announcement that the Sarawak Cancer Centre will be built to cater to the needs of cancer patients is a significant improvement in healthcare services in the state," the statement read.
As part of efforts to forge closer ties, the management of UNIMAS recently visited the three institutions.
The delegation was greeted by RCSI associate director of academic affairs Judith Gilroy, and Professor Arnold Hill, head of the school of medicine.
They had the opportunity to learn about the college's innovative teaching methods and commitment in producing the best healthcare professionals in the world.
At the RCSEd the delegation had a tour of the Surgeon's Hall Museum, which houses an extensive collection of surgical instruments and artifacts, including the college's research facilities.
The delegation also had the opportunity to meet with RCSEd president, and vice president Clare McNaught.
Among those in the delegation to RCSI and RCSEd were chairman of the board of directors UNIMAS, Tan Sri Panglima Sulong Matjeraie and Media Prima Berhad group chairman Datuk Seri Dr Syed Hussian Al Junid, who's also on the board of directors UNIMAS, the university's vice chancellor, Professor Datuk Dr Mohamad Kadim Suaidi and UNIMAS Teaching Hospital director, Professor Dr Ehfa Bujang Safawi.