Majlis Amanah Rakyat (MARA) has formed a special task force to drive the establishment of its first hospital, chairman Datuk Dr Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki announced.
KUALA LUMPUR: Majlis Amanah Rakyat (MARA) has taken the first steps towards establishing its first hospital through a special task force to drive the initiative, its chairman Datuk Dr Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki said.
He said MARA already had a comprehensive healthcare ecosystem to support the establishment of the hospital, including a network of 160 U.n.i KLINIK, U.n.i Farmasi and U.n.i Dental outlets, as well as educational institutions producing professionals in the medical and healthcare fields.
“The special task force to drive the establishment of HOSPITAL MARA has been formed.
“MARA has a complete ecosystem for a hospital, with 160 U.n.i KLINIK, U.n.i Farmasi and U.n.i Dental outlets, UniKL Royal College of Medicine Perak (RCMP) producing doctors and Kolej Poly-Tech MARA (KPTM) training nurses,” he said in a Facebook post today.
Asyraf Wajdi said the time had come for MARA to have its own hospital, which would not only serve as a teaching hospital but also as a centre of healthcare excellence and a catalyst for Bumiputera economic development.
He said the establishment of the hospital would complete MARA’s education ecosystem, particularly that of Universiti Kuala Lumpur Royal College of Medicine Perak (UniKL RCMP), which offers programmes in healthcare fields including nursing, pharmacy and physiotherapy.
He said the establishment of the hospital would complete MARA’s education ecosystem, particularly that of Universiti Kuala Lumpur Royal College of Medicine Perak (UniKL RCMP), which offers programmes in healthcare fields including nursing, pharmacy and physiotherapy.
Clinical training and experience at a teaching hospital were among the requirements for completing the education ecosystem, Asyraf Wajdi said.
MARA also had other components that could support the development of the hospital, including technical and vocational education and training (TVET), engineering and technology, as well as entrepreneurship, financing and industry development networks.
Biomedical science programmes at UniKL Malaysian Institute of Medical Science Technology (UniKL MESTECH) and technology disciplines at other UniKL campuses could also be integrated into the HOSPITAL MARA ecosystem.
“HOSPITAL MARA could even serve as a living laboratory for MARA students and researchers. KKTM students could be involved in hospital equipment and systems technology, UniKL RCMP students could undergo clinical training, other UniKL campuses could develop AI, IoT, robotics or medical devices, while MARA entrepreneurs could supply products and services to the ecosystem,” he said.
He said the U.n.i KLINIK, U.n.i Farmasi and U.n.i Dental network owned by Bumiputera professional entrepreneurs under the Professional Entrepreneur Development (ProSPEC) programme could serve as a ‘frontline healthcare network’ supporting the hospital.
“After decades of producing doctors, nurses, pharmacists and healthcare professionals, the time has come for MARA not only to produce professionals for the healthcare industry, but also to build and own an institution where they can serve, conduct research and ultimately lead the industry,” Asyraf Wajdi added.
