Bukit mertajam: Hospital Bukit Mertajam (HBM) has demonstrated Malaysia's capability to lead the healthcare sector's sustainability agenda after being listed among the world's top 250 greenest hospitals in the World's Greenest Hospitals 2026 ranking by Newsweek and Statista. Bukit Mertajam MP Steven Sim Chee Keong, who is also the Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives Minister, highlighted the significance of this achievement as HBM stands as the only hospital from Malaysia included in this prestigious list.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Sim expressed that this recognition not only elevates HBM but also positions Bukit Mertajam and Malaysia on the global stage. He credited the success to the continuous efforts and commitment of HBM staff, led by its director, Dr. S. Prashant, in developing a sustainable healthcare system. In 2025, HBM had already won the Gold Award in the 'Most Sustainable Hospital 2025' category with its submission titled 'Pioneering 135 Years of Eco-Friendly Healthcare: HBM's Journey Towards Becoming a Sustainable Hospital'. This competition saw participation from 399 entries across 140 hospitals from 14 Asian countries in 10 categories.
Previously, the Ministry of Health (MOH) remarked that HBM made history with its inclusion in the ranking, marking a significant acknowledgment of its commitment to implementing climate-friendly healthcare and environmental sustainability practices. Impressively, HBM was selected ahead of thousands of hospitals from 36 countries in this inaugural edition, recognizing healthcare institutions for their outstanding commitment to climate-friendly healthcare.
Sim further elaborated that moving from Asian-level recognition in 2025 to global acclaim this year is proof of the substantial results yielded by continuous efforts in sustainability, efficiency, and eco-friendly healthcare. He emphasized the importance of providing hospitals with appropriate support and resources to ensure continuous enhancement of service quality.
Since 2023, the Bukit Mertajam MP's office has been actively working to secure government funding to support HBM's development. This includes RM200,000 for a public toilet upgrade project in 2023, RM50,000 for the Eye Clinic in 2024, and RM5 million for a computed tomography (CT) scan facility in 2025 through allocations from the Finance Ministry. These allocations have enabled the dedicated staff at HBM to deliver improved services to the Bukit Mertajam community.