Dr Dzulkefly (centre) at the ceremony to unveil the strategic collaboration between KPJ Healthcare and Mayo Clinic with (from left) Syed Mohamed, Chin, Dr Rizza and Md Arif. — LOW LAY PHON/The Star
A PRIVATE Malaysian healthcare provider has unveiled its strategic collaboration with US-based Mayo Clinic, the largest integrated, not-for-profit medical group practice in the world.
KPJ Healthcare Bhd, through its two specialist hospitals – KPJ Damansara Specialist Hospital (KPJ DSH) and Damansara Specialist Hospital 2 (DSH 2) – has marked a historic milestone as Malaysia’s first entry into the Mayo Clinic Care Network.
This signifies KPJ Healthcare’s commitment to leveraging global insights in driving medical excellence and patientcare innovation, establishing a new standard for Malaysia’s healthcare landscape.
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.
“Consequently, our patients will benefit immensely as their KPJ consultants can now seek advice from Mayo counterparts for their cases.
“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.
Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad officiated at the event held at DSH 2 Bukit Lanjan, Kuala Lumpur.
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.
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.
Membership in the Mayo Clinic Care Network provides both KPJ DSH and DSH 2 access to advanced Mayo Clinic clinical tools and services, including point-of-care AskMayoExpert, eboards and healthcare consulting.
“DSH and DSH2 were selected as the first Mayo Clinic Care Network members in Malaysia by demonstrating a commitment to the highest quality, patient-centred care,” said Dr Rizza.
“For patients, this means being able to receive an even higher level of world-class care, close to home, right here in Malaysia.”
