Dr Noor Hisham clocks out after 35 years of health service

PUTRAJAYA: Health director-general Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah, the man who played a crucial role during the Covid-19 pandemic, has called it a day after having served the country for 35 years.

He clocked out at the Health Ministry around 4.20pm yesterday.

Dr Noor Hisham, who turns 60 tomorrow, was a picture of calm and was all smiles as ministry staff gathered at the lobby to bid him farewell.

Asked on his post-retirement plans, he said he would want to take a rest.

“I want to rest first. I have been working for a long time,” he smiled. He thanked ministry staff for their assistance throughout his 10-year tenure as director-general.

Health Minister Dr Zaliha Mustafa paid tribute to Dr Noor Hisham, saying his involvement and achievements in both domestic and international platforms were used to build better health services for the people.

“I believe that Tan Sri’s services will not stop here. In fact, his services are still needed for the country’s health and medical development,” she posted on Facebook.

The minister also wished Dr Noor Hisham the best on his retirement.

“On behalf of the ministry and staff, I express our deepest gratitude to Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham for his services and contributions,” said Dr Zaliha.

Having led Malaysia’s response to the Covid-19 pandemic, Dr Noor Hisham is well remembered for helping to steer the nation out of the health crisis that crippled much of the world since 2020.

He succeeded Datuk Seri Dr Hasan Abdul Rahman as health director-general on March 1, 2013.

Prior to that, he had held the post of deputy health director-general (medicine) since Feb 1, 2008.

He graduated with a Master’s degree in surgery and a Doctor of Medicine degree from Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia before continuing his studies in the field of endocrine surgery and training at several universities in Adelaide and Sydney, Australia.