By: Noor Eszereen Juferi
Photo By: Sabri Omar & Mohammad Izrul Abdul Jabar
SERDANG, 28 February – His Royal Highness, the Chancellor of UPM, Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah, graciously officiated the opening of the Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Hospital (HSAAS), Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) today.
His Royal Highness hopes that HSAAS, UPM will become one of the world's best university hospitals and its expertise used as a point of reference for other medical practitioners, both inside and outside the country, in their respective fields of expertise.
In his royal address, His Royal Highness expressed his desire that the Ministry of Higher Education (MoHE) or the Ministry of Health Malaysia (MOH) would seek a formula of balance and collaboration as a strong team to reduce the burden of problems faced by the people.
"The active involvement of the private sector, non-governmental organisations or individuals will also help ensure the health services of HSAAS, UPM can be enjoyed by all segments of the society," he said.
Sultan Sharafuddin also noted that the high cost of health treatment is currently a major challenge faced by health institutions, especially in providing the best services with the use of high-tech medical equipment and the best medicines that are high in cost.
At the event, Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah was pleased to hand over the Ambulance Waqf Fund contribution of RM 100,000.00 by the Centre for Management of Waqf, Zakat and Endowment (WAZAN), UPM to the management of HSAAS, UPM.
"Establishing the Waqf Fund and the Patient Welfare Fund at HSAAS, UPM is an effort to help those in need receive and bear the cost of treatment.
"I believe that Malaysians are caring citizens who have a high sense of compassion and a willingness to help," said Sultan Sharafuddin.
At the same event, the Chancellor visited the Regional Emergency Stroke Quick Response (RESQ) Unit, the Department of Radiology, and the HPUPM Exhibition Site, which showcased four areas of expertise, namely Regional RESQ (Stroke Treatment), Zoonosis, Geriatrics, and Prostate care.
Meanwhile, the UPM Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Dato' Dr. Mohd Roslan Sulaiman, in his speech, said the establishment of HSAAS, UPM is a very significant achievement in the development of UPM.
"This is an expansion to the function of the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences (FPSK), UPM, as well as creating various opportunities related to clinical training for undergraduate, postgraduate, and clinical services students," he said.
Meanwhile, HSAAS, UPM, formerly known as UPM Teaching Hospital (HPUPM), has started providing medical and healthcare services to the public since 2020 and is a teaching university hospital.
Also present were the Yang Amat Berhormat Dato' Menteri Besar of Selangor, Yang Amat Berhormat Dato' Seri Amirudin Shari; the Malaysian Minister of Health, YB Dr. Zaliha Mustafa and the Secretary General of the Ministry of Higher Education, Datuk Seri Abdul Razak Jaafar who represented the Minister of Higher Education, YB Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin; as well as the Director of HSAAS, UPM, Prof. Dr. Hamidon Basri. – UPM
