Malaysia sets up global medical school to boost healthcare

Updated on: Wednesday, September 14, 2011

Malaysia has set up a landmark medical school in collaboration with two renowned global universities in a bid to boost healthcare and prevent brain drain from the country.

Prime Minister Najib Razak said the establishment of Perdana University in collaboration with the Maryland-based Johns Hopkins University in the US and the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland would help it become a world-class education research healthcare hub.

"I hope the chance to study the best medical curriculum in the world will encourage more of our country's top graduates to stay at home," Najib said at a function here yesterday.

"This new university, a far-sighted collaboration between the Government's Public-Private Unit and the corporate sector, is something of a landmark for Malaysia," the Prime Minister said.

Large number of Malaysian students and researchers go abroad for medical studies due to lack of top research facilities here.

The university, with former premier Mahathir Mohamad as its first Chancellor, enrolled the first 30 medical students yesterday from Johns Hopkins, with another 75 students from the Royal College of Surgeons.

"Some 90 per cent of students will be locals," said Dr R Mohandas, the chief executive of the university.

The 600-bed hospital, with 1,000 students, will be fully operational by 2014.

Malaysia sets up global medical school to boost healthcare

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