University Malaya Medical Centre

University of Malaya Medical Centre (UMMC)^[1] formerly known as University Hospital is a government-funded medical institution located in Pantai Dalam, southwest corner of Kuala Lumpur, the dynamic and bustling capital city of Malaysia. It was established by Statute in September in 1962 and is part of University of Malaya.^[2]

The entrance to University of Malaya

The University of Malaya, A Brief Introduction

^[3]Shortly after the end of the second World War, a commission was established under the Chairmanship of Sir Alexander Carr-Saunders to enquire into and make recommendations concerning university education in Malaya (Malaysia). The Commission arrived in March 1947, and after an intensive study recommended that the King Edward VII College of Medicine and Raffles College be almagated forthwith to form a University of Malaya. Accordingly, the University of Malaya was established in Singapore on 8 October 1949 as a national institution to serve the higher educational needs of the Federation of Malaya and of Singapore.

In 1957, a Commission of Enquiry was set up by the Governments of the Federation and of Singapore at the request of the University of Malaya to review the constitution, working and finances of the University in the light of the experience and rapid expansion of last seven years and of the prospective expansion in the near future, including the plan for developing the University in Kuala Lumpur, and to make recommendation. Arising from the Commission's Report and that of a Joint Constitutional Committee appointed by the two Governments, legislation was passed in November 1958 providing for the continuance of the University of Malaya as a single University, but with two largely autonomous divisions of equal status, one in each territory. This legislation came into effect in January 1958.

In 1960 the Government of the Federation of Malaya indicated that the Kuala Lumpur Division of the University of Malaya should become he national University in the Federation with effect from the beginning of the session 1962/63, and likewise the Singapore Government indicated that the Singapore Division should become the national University of Singapore. Steps to achieve the establishment of these two separate Universities were finalized during the year 1961 and the University of Malaya was established on 1 January 1962.

The University of Malaya is situated on a site of about 750 acres of land in Pantai Valley on the outskirts of Kuala Lumpur, a rapidly growing city of over half million inhabitants, the capital of Malaysia and near the geographical centre of the Peninsula. One outstanding feature of the University is its rapid growth and development.

Philosophy of Medical Education

The Faculty believes that the education of a physician is a continuous process extending over his life-time, each stage resting upon the preceding one and each preparing him for that which follows. The first stage is the undergraduate course in which the main effort is directed towards the acquisition by the student of scientific methods of thought- the ability to think logically, critically and independently. Much factual information must of necessity be absorbed, but it is the development of the powers of observation and of competence in clinical methods that take priority in importance. Others essential attributes that must be cultivated are an understanding attitude towards people as persons and a strong sense of responsibility of a doctor towards society. The second is the graduate stage, the pre-registration, housemanship or internship year, which provides general vocational experience in the broad field of Medicine. This should be followed immediately by post-graduate experience over several years organized to provide the special knowledge and skills relevant to a particular branch of Medicine. The final stage is one of continuing education to enable the doctor tp keep abreast of new developments in Medicine through personal experience interpreted by reading and attendanceat medical meetings and refresher courses.

The objective of the undergraduate programme is to produce an undifferentiated doctor who will be capable, with further training. of developing full competence in any branch of Medicine. The Faculty Committee on Educational Policy and Curriculum delegates various phases of this programme to preclinical, paraclinical and clinical sub-committees for detailed discussion. The Committee reports to Faculty for acceptance of its proposals. Acts and regulations in respective courses of study and examinations are approved by Senate.

The University Hospital, A Brief Introduction

Although the main hospital building was completed by December, 1966, commissioning of the Hospital and opening of the wards proceede slowly mainly because of a shortage of nursing staff. The first patients were admitted in March 1967 and before the end of the year several wards had been opened together with the Polyclinic and Accident and Emergency Unit thus making available to the residents of Petaling Jaya and the adjoining area of Petaling Jaya and the adjoining area of Kuala Lumpur a hospital service on a 24-hour basis. By the end of 1969, all 758 beds were available for use. A new ward block of 112 bed was constructed in 1974 and commissioned providing for a total of 870 beds for the University Hospital.

Currently known as University of Malaya Medical Centre, it has approximately 1,300 beds which is distributed by 44 wards throughout the medical centre serving a population of 1,782,375 for the district of Petaling.

Brief History of UMMC

UMMC Aerial View in the 1960's

The University of Malaya's (UM) medical faculty was the first school that was instituted at UM in 1905 following the Education Commission report that the colonial region in South East Asia needed to address the shortage of medical assistants in the large cities of Singapore and Penang. This was after the first unsuccessful initial attempt to establish a medical school to train assistant surgeons in 1889. Back then; when the country was under the rule of the British Empire, such a view that a European system of medical school is to established in a colony state was not particularly favored among the European community and therefore there were several obstacles to be overcome before the school could be established. However, despite the odds, in June 1905, under the Straits Legislative Council of Malaya, legislation of the establishment of a medical college in Singapore was passed under the Ordinance No. XV 1905. Following public appeal for funds, the school opened on July 3, 1905 but only started its courses in September the same year. On September 28th, 1905, Sir John Anderson officiated the school under the name "The Straits and Federal Malay States Government Medical School". With the division of the university into two autonomous campuses in Kuala Lumpur and Singapore in 1959, and the passing of the legislation in 1961 by both governments of Malaya and Singapore to make UM a national university, University of Malaya became permanently located in Kuala Lumpur as of January 1, 1962. With this came the new teaching and research facility and its own 500-bed hospital. The Singapore Division was renamed the University of Singapore.

The term "Medical Centre" was first used in 1963 to refer to "the whole Medical Centre complex composed of the departments of the Faculty of Medicine, the Teaching Hospital and the ancillary services attached to them". That was the definition used in the Hospital Act XXII of 1965, Statute XXVIII (The University Hospital) of 1967 and Statute XXXVI (The University Hospital) of 1971. It was also used in Statute XV New Series (The University Hospital) of 1977 which was amended by Statute XX (NewSeries) consequent to the 1975 amendments (A295) to the Universities and University Colleges Act (A30) [or "UUCA].

Although the Faculty of Medicine was established by Statute in 1962, planning, design and construction of the entire Medical Centre project only began actively from 1 February 1963 when Dr. T.J. Danaraj assumed duty as the first Professor of Medicine and the Foundation Dean of Medicine. The first batch of Pre-Medical students were admitted in May 1963 and were taught in the Faculty of Science. Teaching of the Pre-Clinical Year began for the first time in May 1964 in the Faculty of Medicine premises. The Faculty was officially opened on 2 August 1965 by YAB Tun Abdul Razak bin Dato Hussien, The Deputy Prime Minister, who also laid the Foundation Stone of the University Hospital on the same day. The University Hospital admitted its first patients in March 1967. His Majesty the Yang Dipertuan Agung, Duli Yang Maha Mulia, Seri Paduka Baginda, Tuanku Ismail Nasarudin, Shah Ibni Alharmahum and Sultan Zainal Abidin opened the University Hospital (which was later officially known as the University Malaya Medical Centre sometime in the 1990s) on 5 August 1968 when Dr. J.H.E. Griffiths, Professor Danaraj and Lim Chung Tat officiated as the Vice-Chancellor, The Dean of Medicine and the Registrar respectively.^[4]

Today, UMMC stands as a statutory body under The Ministry of Higher Education, Malaysia. The main objectives of UMMC are health services, learning and research.

UMMC strive to provide the best services and treatment. Countless efforts are taken to provide the best medical services, learning and research.

UMMC's Administration

UMMC was planned as an educational institution and as an integral part of the Medical Centre comes under the overall authority of the Council of the University of Malaya. The Hospital is financed by the University through the Ministry of Education. The latter Ministry and that of Health, the Treasury and the University are represented on the Hospital Board of Management together with two representatives of the public nominated by the Chancellor of the University. The Board ensures that the administrative procedures and decisions of the Hospital are in the public interest and serve the general good of the patient. It is also responsible for the financial management of the Hospital and service matters pertaining to general staff.

The Medical Advisory Committee ensures that the best possible patient care is offered throughout the Hospital. It evaluates the clinical work of the Hospital and makes recommendations upon policies as they affect patient care and on inter-departmental problems. It fosters close relationship among all hospital staff so as to ensure good clinical teaching of students.

UMMC's Objectives

• To establish, operate and develop a medical centre of international standard and repute; and
• To co-operate with Faculty in providing facilities for medical education, training, research, internship and consultancy

Vision

UMMC aims to be a world renowned medical centre providing highest quality healthcare, medical training and research according to International Standards.^[5]

Mission

UMMC is committed to providing the highest quality healthcare, training and research in tertiary medical services, community and patient welfare services.^[5]

Core Values

Excellence, Patient-Centredness, Ethical Behavior, Efficiency, Empathy, Friendliness

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  UMMC's Top Management

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  Emblem

References