By Syifarida Muhamad Zaki
SERDANG, 19 March - Teaching Hospital Universiti Putra Malaysia (HPUPM) will become fully operational in January 2019, said UPM’s Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Datin Paduka Dato' Dr. Aini Ideris.
She added that HPUPM will increase opportunity to carry out more research and development (R&D) in the field of medicine.
"HPUPM will help strengthen the role the university plays in the community context through the services provided apart from being an added value to the university which produces top medical specialists," she said while officiating the HPUPM Open Day at the Experimental Hall, UPM here.
HPUPM, which will be equipped with 400 beds, started the construction works in 2014 on the land of 38.4 hectares beside Serdang Hospital with the cost of RM600 million. It has now approached 60 percent of its construction. Upon completion, it will house 188 staff and 360 specialist doctors.
The one-day programme, HPUPM Open Day, was held for the very first time with the aim of introducing HPUPM to the public, in particular the seven key areas of expertise, namely stroke care, sports injuries and arthroscopic surgery, men’s health, zoonotic, geriatric care, skin diseases and immunology, as well as cancer.
The Director of HPUPM, Dr. Muhammad Mohd Isa said that the one-stop Regional Emergency Stroke Quick Response Unit (RESQ), HPUPM was among many others introduced.
"I hope this programme will bring positive impact on members of the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences (FPSK) and all UPM staff in line with the HPUPM’s theme – Providing Extraordinary Care Together," he said.
The establishment of RESQ aims to study and treat patients with stroke, which is the third leading cause of death in the country.
Meanwhile, the Family Medicine Specialist Clinic aims to accommodate green zone patients or outpatients who admit to Serdang Hospital.
Green zone patients are categorised as those who have fever, cough, cold and non-traumatic diseases but seek medical aid in the emergency unit.
"HPUPM shares the same facilities with Serdang Hospital which include the emergency department and morgue," he said.
The HPUPM Open Day also exhibited services and expertise of the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences through posters, robotic surgical exhibition, allergy tests and health screening. There were also sessions on ‘diet chit chat’, blood donation campaign and forums on women’s healthcare and sports delivered by the orthopedic surgeons and gynecologists at UPM.
