DUBAI/KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia’s KPJ Healthcare Berhad and world-renowned United States medical academic centre, Mayo Clinic, sign a strategic alliance forged and set to spur the country’s medical tourism sector to greater heights.
Present were Johor Corp Bhd president and chief executive officer Datuk Syed Mohamed Syed Ibrahim, Mayo Clinic international practice and Asia-Pacific executive medical director Dr Stacey Rizza and KPJ Healthcare chairman Datuk Md Arif Mahmood.
The collaboration was announced in a ceremony officiated by the Minister of Health of Malaysia and attended by several notable figures from the Ministry of Health and Mayo Clinic. The partnership marks Malaysia’s first entry into the Mayo Clinic Care Network, a milestone that signifies the country’s commitment to elevating its healthcare standards.
The ultimate aim of this collaboration is to improve patient outcomes and contribute to the nation’s healthcare industry. The association also opens up a world of resources for professional development and enhances the quality of care and services provided to patients. Notably, the collaboration includes access to AskMayoExpert, eBoards, live and scheduled video conferences, and Mayo’s Health Care Consulting. KPJ Healthcare plans to leverage Mayo Clinic’s experience and resources to elevate their healthcare expertise and skills.
As part of the Mayo Clinic Care Network, KPJ Healthcare hospitals can now provide better care to their patients by using Mayo Clinic’s resources and medical guidance. This collaboration represents a significant step forward for the Malaysian healthcare sector. With access to Mayo Clinic’s knowledge and expertise, these hospitals are set to deliver improved patient outcomes and contribute to the country’s healthcare industry. This partnership is indeed a beacon of progress and innovation in Malaysia’s healthcare landscape, promising a brighter future for its patients.
This collaboration seeks to establish centers of excellence, ensuring top-tier healthcare services for patients and addressing the rising tide of cancer and heart/lung diseases.
So, two prominent hospitals in Malaysia, KPJ Damansara Specialist Hospital and Damansara Specialist Hospital 2, have recently joined the Mayo Clinic Care Network. and this significant step makes them the first healthcare providers in Malaysia to do so. The Mayo Clinic Care Network is a group of carefully selected healthcare organizations that benefit from the knowledge and expertise of Mayo Clinic, a leading nonprofit organization committed to innovation in clinical practice, education, and research.
In his speech, Dr Dzulkefly said heart disease continued to be the foremost cause of mortality in Malaysia, making up 18.4% of medically certified deaths in 2022, based on the report by the Department of Statistics Malaysia.
“The emergence of heart attacks among younger individuals today, compared to five years ago, is a concerning trend.
“Similarly, the rising number of deaths attributed to lung disease among Malaysia’s youth is equally worrisome.
“The burden of both these diseases weighs heavily on our nation, necessitating innovative approaches and cutting-edge solutions to combat this pervasive health threat,” he said.
Dr Dzulkefly said statistics revealed a pressing need for advancements in oncology treatment within our borders.
“Based on the Malaysian National Cancer Registry report, a total of 168,822 new cancer cases were reported over a period of five years from 2017 to 2021, underscoring the urgency of enhancing oncology services and infrastructure to meet the growing demand for cancer care.
“By forging strategic alliances with globally esteemed institutions such as Mayo Clinic, KPJ Healthcare is not merely following a trajectory but actively leading the charge towards transformative change,” he added.
Dr Dzulkefly said by joining forces with Mayo Clinic, KPJ Healthcare would leverage on its expertise and knowledge in the fields of cardiology, respiratory and oncology to build and spearhead centres of excellence in these areas, thus uplifting KPJ’s clinical excellence to international best practices.
Dr Dzulkefly said:”The partnership between Mayo Clinic and KPJ Healthcare Berhad, through its two specialist hospitals, KPJ Damansara Specialist Hospital (KPJ DSH) and Damansara Specialist Hospital 2 (DSH 2) will raise their service performance especially relating to innovations in medicine, technology and expertise, including human resource training”.
H.E. added:”As part of the Mayo Clinic Care Network, KPJ Healthcare hospitals can now provide better care to their patients by using Mayo Clinic’s resources and medical guidance. This collaboration represents a significant step forward for the Malaysian healthcare sector. With access to Mayo Clinic’s knowledge and expertise, these hospitals are set to deliver improved patient outcomes and contribute to the country’s healthcare industry. This partnership is indeed a beacon of progress and innovation in Malaysia’s healthcare landscape, promising a brighter future for its patients.
Minister Dr Dzulkefly said :”the partnership provides the opportunity to boost best practices in the private medical sector in delivering their services”.
In a ground-breaking move poised to revolutionize the healthcare landscape, Malaysia’s Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr. Dzulkefly Ahmad, in collaboration with KPJ Healthcare, has announced a strategic partnership with the renowned Mayo Clinic. This alliance aims to significantly enhance cancer and heart/lung care services in Malaysia, marking a pivotal step towards providing world-class healthcare. With KPJ’s two premier hospitals joining the Mayo Clinic Care Network for an initial tenure of two years, this partnership focuses on establishing centers of excellence in oncology and heart/lung care, promising a new era of healthcare innovation and excellence in the region.
“The collaboration places KPJ in a league of its own and I hope it will also spur the national medical tourism to a higher level and place Malaysia in the best position in terms of medical tourism,” he told reporters after the signing of the strategic alliance between KPJ Healthcare and Mayo Clinic Friday.
KPJ Healthcare managing director and president Chin Keat Chyuan and Mayo Clinic’s International Practice and Asia Pacific executive medical director Dr Stacey Rizza were also present at the ceremony.
The collaboration is set to leverage Mayo Clinic’s unparalleled expertise and resources, aiming to elevate the standard of healthcare services in Malaysia. This initiative not only seeks to ensure that Malaysian and international patients have access to top-tier healthcare but also underscores a significant commitment to battling the rising tide of cancer and heart/lung diseases. By integrating Mayo Clinic’s world-renowned protocols and research into KPJ’s hospitals, the partnership aspires to foster an environment of excellence in patient care and clinical outcomes.
“The public sector caters for two thirds of outpatient and inpatient cases but 75 per cent of specialists in Malaysia are in the private sector. Resources, burden of work and data are not easily shared between the two, leading to delays in diagnosis and treatment, unnecessary repeat investigations and added costs.
KPJ Healthcare would be part of the Mayo Clinic Care Network for the next two years, said KPJ Healthcare president and managing director Chin Keat Chyuan.
Specifically, he said KPJ DSH would leverage on the collaboration to establish its oncology centre as a centre of excellence, while DSH2 would focus on its heart and lung department.
“Our doctors at these two hospitals will gain access to Mayo Clinic’s clinical, educational, research and operational knowledge, resources and expertise,” he said.
“This includes the opportunity for direct consultations with Mayo’s experts and physicians as well as access to Mayo Clinic’s cutting-edge research, diagnostic and treatment resources.
“We are bringing world-class healthcare closer to home, where we will not only improve our patients’ outcomes but also contribute to the nation,” Chin said in his speech at a ceremony to announce the collaboration.
