Sabah: Sabah will have a world-class heart hospital in Likas here, following a strategic partnership between Yayasan Sabah Group and IJN Sdn Bhd, to be developed on a four-hectare site specifically gazetted for the project. Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor, who is also the Yayasan Sabah Board of Trustees, said this collaboration is expected to establish and expand cardiac treatment centres in the state.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, the collaboration aims to enhance access to cardiac healthcare services in Sabah. The MoU signing ceremony for the development of Hospital IJN Sabah was witnessed by Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor. Yayasan Sabah Group was represented by its director, Datuk Seri Gulamhaidar Khan Bahadar, and Innoprise Corporation Sdn Bhd executive chairman, Datuk Jasnih Daya, while IJN Group Sdn Bhd was represented by its chief executive officer, Prof Datuk Seri Dr Mohamed Ezani Md Taib, and clinical chief officer, Datuk Dr Saiful Azmi Yahaya.
Also signed at the event was an MoU between University College Sabah Foundation (UCSF) and IJN University College for cooperation in health education. IJN chairman Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah stated that the signing of the MoU reflects a strategic step forward in empowering healthcare services and human capital development in Sabah. He emphasized the need to move beyond a centralized approach to ensure the effectiveness of the national healthcare system, advocating for expanded access to high-quality treatment.
Dr Noor Hisham highlighted that the strategic collaboration aims to extend cardiovascular expertise and services to Sabah through a more holistic and sustainable approach. The goal is to build an integrated health ecosystem encompassing clinical treatment, professional training, research, and the development of local expertise. IJN is committed to sharing expertise in treatment, technology, clinical systems, and hospital management to meet high standards and prioritize patient safety.
The partnership between UCSF and IJN University College is seen as an opportunity to strengthen healthcare workforce development, offering avenues for knowledge exchange, clinical training, and the development of academic programs relevant to the healthcare industry's current needs. Dr Noor Hisham noted the importance of a competent, highly skilled workforce for the sustainability of the healthcare system.
For Jasnih, the construction of an IJN hospital in Sabah is a strategic move expected to bring benefits to the people and support the Sabah Heart Centre at Queen Elizabeth II Hospital, which currently has limited capacity. With a high-standard heart hospital in Sabah, patients will no longer have to rely entirely on facilities outside the state, thereby reducing travel cost burdens and accelerating access to specialist treatment.