Medical tourism and beyond
Professor Tan Sri Dato' Dzulkifli Abdul Razak
Learning Curve: Perspective
New Sunday Times - 07-04-2013
AS "distasteful" as it sounds, medical tourism seems to have gained a foothold in the marketplace.
Until recently, it was almost equivalent to "enlargement" and "beauty" therapy, mostly driven by elective treatments or for non-medical reasons.
After undergoing "medical tourism", some "patients" are exposed to certain vulnerabilities on their return to their home country.
This is particularly worrying in an industry where the measures of quality and accreditation are subject to wide variations across the globe. Some destinations may even be hazardous to medical tourists.
Unless practices are transparent and medical expertise is excellent, the notion of medical tourism will continue to be a risky venture.
One way to tackle this is to develop practices for new forms of treatment and therapy. For example, innovative drugs of higher potential can be tested in clinical trials as part of research and development.
With rapidly advancing healthcare frontiers, opportunities abound especially in the treatment of tropical diseases.
It is with this in mind that some 10 years ago, the idea of an Advanced Medical and Dental Institute was mooted.
In late 2002, the Cabinet announced the decision to set it up in Bertam, Penang.
By 2013, efforts to kick-start the flagship project under Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) began in earnest. It was another achievement for the tertiary institution.
The fact that Penang is already an internationally established electronics hub makes the institute particularly attractive as a research and development centre where the latest in technology can spur advances in medical devices.
Almost instantly clinical services were offered at temporary sites housed at rented shoplots in Bertam.
At the same time, a group of pioneering graduate students together with relevant international expertise were sent for training and knowledge transfer in disciplines that were not readily available locally.
This included transfusion science, health toxicology, and complementary and nuclear medicine.
The institute strives to present "research with a difference" by steering capabilities to help the larger community, focusing on its needs through a transdisciplinary approach.
It covers fundamental areas as well as applied sciences, biomedical and biotechnology, with emphasis on the concept of sustainable health.
By 2004, the institute was able to provide a range of oncology services such as the latest diagnostic procedures and dietary counselling.
Outpatient clinics and day care centres with up-to-date drug regimens were established to deal with various cancers especially for patients from the northern part of Malaysia. Soon enough, patients came from neighbouring countries.
A year later, Sejahtera Women Clinic was set up to focus on female-related cancers -- breast and cervix.
It then became a one-stop centre with networks through other non-governmental organisations such as the National Cancer Council Malaysia.
Oral health services came into being in 2006 beginning with general, followed by specialised dental care.
Community education and demonstrations are held to promote dental health.
When USM celebrated its 40th anniversary in 2009, the institute launched its mobile services to serve a wider population as part of its commitment to improving health.
Today, the institute has proven its ability to meet challenges of healthcare needs of the community near and far.
Now it has dedicated buildings of its own on designated sites, not too far from where it all began a decade ago.
A building for clinical trials is not only a money spinner for the institute to be self-sustaining but also a knowledge "generator" that will make it an "advanced" institute as envisioned.
The institute has progressed by leaps and bounds to carve a niche for itself in a short span of time, and it is poised to do even better in the next 10 years.
Given its track record, it is ready for the next wave of development as an institution of international repute.
- The writer is the vice-chancellor of the Albukhary International University