UM Specialist Centre (UMSC) wins at Healthcare Asia Awards 2026

Advanced endoscopy and neurosurgery programmes drive national leadership in complex care.

UM Specialist Centre (UMSC) won Specialty Hospital of the Year (Quaternary) - Malaysia in the Healthcare Asia Awards 2026.
The centre is a leader in advanced gastrointestinal endoscopic intervention, under the expertise of Prof Dr Sanjiv Mahadeva, Prof Dr Chan Wah Keong, Assoc Prof Dr Chuah Kee Huat and the rest of the team of gastroenterologists. It expanded endoscopic submucosal dissection, endoscopic ultrasound, and per oral endoscopic myotomy (POEM), which are minimally invasive procedures that treat early gastrointestinal cancers, pancreaticobiliary disorders, and oesophageal motility diseases, avoiding the need for an open surgery. UM Specialist Centre (UMSC) performs the largest volume of POEM procedures in Malaysia. Outcomes appear in international peer-reviewed journals, positioning the centre as the country’s premier referral hub for therapeutic endoscopy.

The renal transplant programme, under the leadership of Consultant Nephrologist Prof Dr Lim Soo Kun and Consultant Urologist Prof Dr Shanggar Kuppusamy, operates through close collaboration between nephrology and urology. The programme performs living donor kidney transplantation and is among the leading private hospitals in Malaysia offering renal transplant services. By restoring kidney function, transplantation reduces patients’ long-term dependence on haemodialysis and the complications associated with chronic dialysis therapy. This improves survival and quality of life for patients with end-stage kidney disease while contributing to the strengthening of Malaysia’s transplant ecosystem.

In neurology and neurosurgery, UM Specialist Centre (UMSC), led by Assoc Prof Dr Kalai Arasu Muthusamy, Consultant Neurosurgeon, together with Prof Dr Lim Shen Yang and Prof Dr Tan Ai Huey, Consultant Neurologists, has treated more than 200 patients with Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) for Parkinson’s disease. This represents the highest DBS case volume in Malaysia, and the programme is one of the busiest DBS centres in Southeast Asia. The therapy has significantly improved patients’ functional independence and quality of life whilst reducing reliance on long-term dopaminergic medications.

UM Specialist Centre (UMSC) faced challenges like limited expertise, steep learning curves, and technology needs. Teams built capabilities through governance and integration. They align procedures with healthcare trends via research and collaboration with Universiti Malaya (UM) and Universiti Malaya Medical Centre.

Public-private partnerships expand access to care across sectors. UM Specialist Centre (UMSC) supports UM’s Strategic Plan under the income generation pillar. Investments in technology, training, and pathways ensure safety and outcomes, whilst peer review reduces risks and cuts overseas referrals.

Healthcare Asia Awards is an awards programme focused on acknowledging exceptional hospitals across Asia that redefine the standards of excellence in the healthcare industry. It proudly shines a spotlight on Asian hospitals that consistently go beyond conventional boundaries to provide top-tier patient care and have a lasting impact on their local communities.

The Healthcare Asia Awards is presented by Healthcare Asia Magazine. To view the full list of winners, click here. If you want to join the 2027 awards programme and be acclaimed for your organisation's remarkable initiatives and contributions to the healthcare industry, please contact Julie Anne Nuñez-Difuntorum at [email protected].