A group of doctors, medical officers, and nurses from Sarawak General Hospital, Sri Aman Hospital 2, and Subang Jaya Medical Centre (SJMC) have joined hands to perform an impressive 34 surgeries in a week, thereby improving lives and leaving a lasting impact on the communities they serve through the Global Surgery Initiative (GSI) programme.
From gallstones to kidney failures, a team of highly skilled healthcare professionals tackled a diverse range of complex cases.
The initiative gives a new ray of hope to those living in the underserved regions of Sarawak through a first-of-its-kind public-private partnership, backed by The Ministry of Health Malaysia (MOH), the Malaysian Society of Anaesthesiologists (MSA) and SJMC.
“The GSI initiative is a noble cause that empowers patients without access to critical medical services. We are grateful to be a part of this effort to establish safe and patient-centered anesthesia. The dedication and expertise of healthcare professionals involved in this programme are remarkable, a testament to their tireless efforts in improving countless lives.
“This initiative sets an example for us to follow as we work towards bridging critical healthcare gaps and making a difference,” said Professor Dr Ina Ismiarti Shariffuddin, president of the Malaysian Society of Anaesthesiologists (MSA).
Dr Gunalan Palari Arumugam, chairman of the Medical Advisory Board, SJMC and consultant anaesthesiologist and critical care physician, SJMC worked with the medical team to perform various surgeries.
He said: “We can be the doers, movers, and shakers of the imperfect healthcare system instead of lamenting its flaws. The success of the project was made possible by the hard work of many individuals, and the hope is that more doctors will come forward to contribute their time and expertise in the future.
“The GSI programme serves as an example of how individuals can take ownership and responsibility for driving positive change and building a better, more equitable healthcare system for all.”
The team of medical experts from SJMC who made the GSI programme a success include Dr R. Krishnan Raman, consultant general and hepatobiliary surgeon, Dr Haritharan Thamutaram, consultant general and hepatobiliary surgeon and Dr Liew Ngoh Chin, consultant general and vascular surgeon and a dedicated team of nurses led by Angie Ng Pei Shee, operation theatre services administrator and Lee Sah Bolatero, staff nurse.
The medical team’s expertise and tireless efforts were crucial in bringing the Global Surgery Initiative to life. Their commitment to improving access to surgical services is inspiring, urging others to support similar initiatives that bring life-saving treatments closer to underserved communities. Together, every patient can have access to quality healthcare services regardless of their location or financial situation.
