Kota Kinabalu: Sabahan-owned Rafflesia Medical Centre (RMC) has been named an inaugural recipient of The BrandLaureate Medical and Healthcare Advancement BestBrands Award 2026.
The medical centre received the award in the category of Excellence in Trusted and Affordable Healthcare Services at a ceremony held at The Majestic Hotel in Kuala Lumpur on July 30, alongside The BrandLaureate Lifestyle BestBrands Awards 2026.
RMC chairman Steven Ong Chu Yaw said the recognition belonged to the centre’s staff and patients.
“Affordability has never been a compromise for us; it has been the whole point,” he said.
“This award tells us that a Sabahan medical centre can uphold the highest standards of trust while keeping healthcare affordable and still be recognised nationally. The credit goes to our dedicated doctors, nurses and supporting staff, as well as the communities who have grown with us since 2004,” he said.
The awards are administered by The World Brands Foundation (TWBF), a non-profit branding foundation established in 2005 and led by its founder and world president, Prof Dr KKJohan.
Since the BrandLaureate platform was launched in 2006, more than 3,000 brands and over 500 international brand personalities have been honoured, including Microsoft Malaysia, MR DIY, Maybank Islamic and Resorts World Genting.
The Medical and Healthcare Advancement BestBrands Awards are presented under the theme “Advancing Healthcare, Elevating Trust.”According to the organisers, the 2026 healthcare award is the first of its kind, recognising recipients not only for their past achievements but also as benchmark brands for the wider healthcare industry.
RMC chief executive officer Dr Wong Haw Huo, also known as Simon, said the award would inspire the centre to continue raising the standard of healthcare services.
“Being named among the inaugural recipients carries great responsibility as well as recognition,” he said.
“Patients do not choose a hospital because of its awards. They seek personalised treatment, affordable quality medical care and a balanced, healthy life. We will continue to improve and learn so that we can serve our community better,” he said.
Established in 2004 as Sabah’s third private medical centre, RMC is located in Taman Millennium along the Jalan Lintas-Lido-Kepayan corridor, a short distance from Kota Kinabalu city centre and the Kota Kinabalu International Airport.
The centre provides primary, secondary and specialised healthcare services, including outpatient consultations, endoscopy, laparoscopy, colonoscopy, laserhaemorrhoid treatment, minimally invasive and major surgery, obstetrics, paediatrics, orthopaedics, ENT surgery, cancer screening and treatment, obesity management, and mental health assessments. These services are supported by an in-house laboratory, pharmacy and imaging facilities.
RMC is led by chairman Steven Ong Chu Yaw, chief executive officer Dr Wong Haw Huo, chief operating officer Dr Muhammad Jaideep Das and medical director Datuk Dr Charanjeet Singh.
The centre has also undertaken various community outreach programmes, including wellness initiatives with Sabah Electricity Sdn Bhd, health screening for the special needs community, and an RM1 blood screening initiative aimed at making basic health checks more accessible to households.