UMS’ high-tech hospital another step into the future: Minister
Published on: Wednesday, March 13, 2019
By: Jeremy S Zabala
KOTA KINABALU: The high-tech facilities implemented by Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) in their Smart Hospital (HUMS) is another step into the future of enhanced medical and health services.
Health and People’s Wellbeing Minister Datuk Stephen Wong said in line with the Ministry’s vision in improving the health and information system, the HUMS is to have great potential in delivering better healthcare services to Sabahans.
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“With this system to be on in UMS, it will be starting at small scale and when it is successful, the technology will be spread to the other hospitals here.
“Not only will we have a high-tech system, we will also be able to save time in serving patients especially with those complaints of our methods being slow,” he said after witnessing the Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) signing between UMS and State Health Department and Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signing between UMS and Health4U Solution Sdn Bhd, here, Tuesday.
Also present were Sabah Health Director Datuk Dr Christina Rundi, UMS Board of Directors Chairperson Datuk KY Mustafa, UMS Vice-Chancellor Prof Datuk Dr D Kamarudin D Mudin and Health4U Solution Sdn Bhd CEO Datuk Chevy Beh, among others.
With the HUMS operating as a medical centre as well as a teaching hospital, Wong said it is an ideal method of boosting medical tourism in Sabah but will need improvement on the existing facilities which would not only attract tourist but also contribute to the tourism economy.
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“We also hope that once the hospital is completed, we will be able to produce more experts and specialists that Sabah needs. We are hunting for more specialists to close the gap and doctor-patient ration.
“We are, as compared to our counterparts in the Peninsula, still far behind. So with the hospital development, it will definitely help us go further in the medical field,” he added.
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The Sandakan MP also said that the MoA with a 15-year extension through collaboration with the Health Department would help the government’s health sector in terms of workforce which could enhance the people’s health status.
Wong said such collaboration would also be able to fulfil the educational needs of students in of UMS Medicine and Health Faculty by providing them with training and related activities in their field.
Meanwhile, Kamarudin said the hospital that will adopt smart concept in its management, services, teaching and research activities is expected to see completion in 2021 and is currently according to schedule.
Not only equipped with high-tech system, he said HUMS will also utilise information and communications technology (ICT) application in its administration as it could provide a better service to future patients.
“When we talk about Smart, we cannot run away from using ICT as our platform to provide the best service for our patients.
“Everything will be based on technology in the future but we have to remember that technology itself will not be smart as we have to include smart workforce and governance,” he added.
HUMS will be a 112,842 square metres structure constructed on 60 acres at the university which will house 400 beds, 25 operations theatres and 12 labour units.
Kamarudin also said the medical centre would be open to the public aside from being used as an education centre for UMS students involved in the medical field.
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