By Asmahanim Amir
Pictures by Shahiddan Saidi

CHERAS, 4 October 2019 – Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) and the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh (RCSEd) are launching the New International Strategy in support of enhancing the skills of surgeons and dentists around the globe.

Focusing on worldwide patient safety standard and practices, the strategy encompasses education, training, and examinations to advocate the highest standard of surgical and dental care.

The strategy is in line with the establishment of the Advance Surgical Skills Centre (ASSC), UKM Medical Centre. In 2018, UKM has started a partnership with RCSEd to provide comprehensive and versatile surgical training centres in Malaysia.

“We could benefit from the various co-operation programs from the array of events organised together for betterment of skills and clinical acumen,” The Vice Chancellor of UKM, Prof. Ir. Dr. Mohd Hamdi Abd Shukor reaffirmed this in his speech at the ceremony of Launching of International Strategy: The Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh recently.

He has also emphasized that the collaboration is in accordance with the Minister of Education’s vision to create a higher education system that ranks among the world’s best and enables Malaysia to compete globally.

The launch ceremony was officiated by HRH Yang di-Pertuan Besar Negeri Sembilan Darul Khusus, Tuanku Muhriz Ibni Almarhum Tuanku Munawir, as Chancellor of UKM and Honorary Fellow of RCSEd. Also present in the ceremony was HRH Tuanku Ampuan Besar Negeri Sembilan Darul Khusus, Tuanku Aishah Rohani Binti Tengku Besar Mahmud.

Meanwhile, the Vice President of RCSEd, Pala Rajesh said various factors are contributing to the demand for education in surgical services such as surgeon shortage, growing elderly population, and ongoing trends towards increased healthcare utilisation.

“The country desperately needs more surgeons in the future. This is why we encourage junior doctors and medical students in their clinical years to pursue their career in surgery and to review the available options,” he added.

Based in Scotland, RCSEd has 27,000 memberships from over 100 countries. For the past 500 years, it has championed the highest standard of surgical and dental practice in the United Kingdom and influenced policy making across the United Kingdom. Now it is paving its way to ASEAN region through Malaysia.