Global Surgery Initiative in Malaysia for Equitable Access to Safe, Affordable Surgical and Anaesthesia Care

Launch of the Global Surgery Initiative in conjunction with the 60th Anniversary of the Malaysian Society of Anaesthesiologists with Dr Gunalan Palari Arumugam, Chairman of the Medical Advisory Board, SJMC (far left); Yg Bhg Tan Sri Dato’ Seri Dr Noor Hisham bin Abdullah, Director General of Health Malaysia (centre) and Mr Bryan Lin, Chief Executive Officer of SJMC (far right)

Subang Jaya, Selangor, 15 February 2023 - The Ministry of Health Malaysia (MOH), the Malaysian Society of Anaesthesiologists (MSA) and Subang Jaya Medical Centre (SJMC) joined hands for Global Surgery Initiative (GSI) – a first of its kind Public-Private Partnership initiative for corporate social responsibility that aims to provide access to safe and affordable surgical and anaesthesia care in underserved areas in Malaysia.

The MSA has mooted this GSI as a CSR project with the objective of the anaesthesiology fraternity rendering additional services to the country and community. This is just the beginning as the MSA looks forward to collaborate with other like-minded NGOs and private institutions to further this Initiative. The GSI was officially launched at SJMC earlier today in conjunction with the 60th Anniversary of the Malaysian Society of Anaesthesiologists celebration. 

“In conjunction with the 60th Anniversary of the MSA, the representative body for anaesthesiologists in Malaysia, we are proud to be part of such a meaningful collaboration. We are grateful for the growing support towards establishing a safe and a patient centred anaesthesia in the underserved areas”, said Professor Dr Ina Ismiarti Shariffuddin, President of the Malaysian Society of Anaesthesiologists (MSA).

Globally, 9 out of 10 people do not have access to basic surgical care in the low-income and middle-income countries. The Global Surgery Initiative has identified certain parts of Malaysia to receive support in surgical services and anaesthesia care, especially in East Malaysia. Untreated surgical conditions have exerted substantial but largely unrecognised negative effects on human health, welfare, and economic development.

The event was attended by Yg Bhg Tan Sri Dato’ Seri Dr Noor Hisham bin Abdullah, Director General of Health Malaysia, Professor Dr Ina Ismiarti Shariffudin, President of the Malaysian Society of Anaesthesiologists, Professor Dr Marzida Mansor, President of the College of Anaesthesiologists, Academy of Medicine Malaysia, Dr Ooi Choo Huck, Director of Sarawak State Health Department, Dr Gunalan Palari Arumugam, Chairman of the Medical Advisory Board, Subang Jaya Medical Centre, Mr Bryan Lin, Chief Executive Officer of Subang Jaya Medical Centre (SJMC).

Yg Bhg Tan Sri Dato’ Seri Dr Noor Hisham bin Abdullah, Director General of Health Malaysia sharing about the Global Surgery Initiative and MOH's efforts.

“The 60th Anniversary of the Malaysian Society of Anaesthesiologists celebration will be a great platform to discuss global health disparities and brainstorm innovative solutions, particularly the role of anaesthesiologists to assist in rebuilding a resilient health system nationwide following the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Yg Bhg Tan Sri Dato’ Seri Dr Noor Hisham bin Abdullah, Director-General of Health Malaysia.

Tan Sri Dato’ Seri Dr Noor Hisham added, “The anaesthesia and surgical fraternity in Malaysia are currently undergoing an exciting transformative period. Through creative ideas and innovative partnerships, the Global Surgery Initiative has been established throughout the country with the main focus of strengthening the provision of primary and essential surgical, obstetric, trauma and anaesthesia (SOTA) care at district hospitals. Moreover, the implementation of the Global Surgery roadmap embracing Lean Management, the Cluster Hospital concept, the Mass Surgery Initiative and outsourcing management will further enhance access and equity of surgical services in Malaysia. The Ministry of Health urges everyone to rally behind these initiatives to improve access and equitability for surgical services and brings life-saving essential surgical treatments closer to communities. Together, we can make it possible”. 

Bellwether operations such as emergency laparotomies, caesarean sections, and treatment of an open fracture are universally covered in Malaysia, however, there still exists inequity. In order to offer access to surgical and anaesthesia treatment in underserved parts of Malaysia, particularly in East Malaysia, the surgical and anaesthesiology services in MOH Malaysia have been leading the local Global Surgery agenda. 

Since 2019, this Global Surgery framework has been deployed gradually through partnerships with MOH district hospitals and their nearest lead specialist and training MOH hospital. This CSR project, introduced by MSA and supported by SJMC will be one of the first few projects locally where surgeons, anaesthesiologists, nurses, and other allied health care professionals from the private sector are joining forces to work together with the public health system to identify district hospitals where the need for surgical services has not been completely met. 

This is a first of its kind Public-Private Partnership in Malaysia and a meaningful one to bring much-needed attention and effort to improve surgery and anaesthesia in underserved areas in Malaysia

“Despite advancements in access to surgical care with the training of surgeons and anaesthesiologists over the years in Malaysia, under the Global Surgery Initiative, there are five issues identified and must be addressed for equitable access to affordable and safe surgery - the patient factor, lack of facilities and human resource, lack of human resource in available facilities, tackling long queues with the available facilities and human resource, and logistic and transport issues delaying access,” said Dr Gunalan Palari Arumugam, Chairman of the Medical Advisory Board, Subang Jaya Medical Centre.

Dr Gunalan added, “The strategies to address these issues have been developed and implemented on the ground, with improvements in access to safe surgical care seen in participating rural hospitals. I hope that this Global Surgery Initiative can be an on-going effort until local resources are available to better surgical and anaesthesia care for all.”

“This is the first of its kind Public-Private Partnership in Malaysia and a meaningful one to bring much-needed attention and effort to improve surgery and anaesthesia in areas that have limited access to good surgical care in our country. SJMC is proud to be a part of this meaningful initiative and play an active role in closing the gaps,” said Bryan Lin, CEO of Subang Jaya Medical Centre. 

Through this CSR project, two outreach programmes are planned. The first outreach programme will coincide with the 1st Global Surgery Conference in Kuching, Sarawak in March 2023, followed by the second one in July 2023 prior to the MSA College of Anaesthesiologists Annual Scientific Congress, also in Kuching, Sarawak. The district hospitals, preferably with less than 100 beds and with minimum access to specialist-level care will be identified together with the Sarawak State Health Department.

Source:
1. Malay Mail
2. Utusan Malaysia
3. Sin Chew Daily
4. Malaysia Journal of Nursing
5. Health Care Asia
6. The Edge TV
7. New Straits Times