JUDGING COMMITTEE
To ensure complete impartiality among committee members , for example when a member ’ s own hospital is under consideration , that jury member is asked to abstain from judging within the category .
As a prominent member of the local health community , Dr Jacob has known the two special award-winners , both Malaysians , personally for a long time .
Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah , Malaysia ’ s Director-General of Health and the recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award , is someone who stands out in Dr Jacob ’ s reckoning .
“ Dr Noor Hisham has been a fantastic surgeon and is very humble and always looks to give recognition not to himself , but to his team . He is an endocrine surgeon at a government facility , and he did not stop his surgical practice once he became the Director-General of Health , but he has continued to practice as a surgeon . He has a very fine pair of hands that have helped many patients ,” he said .
Even though he continues to practice , the director-general found himself on the global stage as the leader of one of the world ’ s most successful public health initiatives against the coronavirus pandemic . As Malaysia ’ s top health official , Dr Noor Hisham has implemented effective measures to control the spread of COVID-19 that have won him plaudits from around the world .
“ He has persisted and never slacked off for even one day in this fight . He has been congratulated globally — in fact , he has been recognised by the WHO and is mentioned alongside other global health personalities such as Dr Anthony Fauci , his counterpart in the United States , who is also talked about very affectionately . Dr Noor
“ Every year , Global Health Asia-Pacific looks at centres of excellence and at hospitals that have done well , especially in the field of medical tourism . A lot of importance to hospitals which have embarked on medical tourism in a big way and attracted patients from around the region and from elsewhere in the world as well .”
Hisham is someone who gets good results in public health and also in his own surgical practice because of the care he gives and the passion he has for his job and his patients ,” added Dr Jacob .
Tan Sri Dato ’ Dr Yahya Awang , a pioneer in Malaysian heart surgery and the recipient of the award for Cardiothoracic Personality of the Year , is well known to Dr Jacob and his peers as well .
For four decades , the surgeon has pushed the boundaries of cardiac surgery in Malaysia , trained a new generation of specialists , and founded major hospitals in and around Kuala Lumpur . Dr Yahya ’ s most famous achievement was the establishment of the National Heart Centre , the jewel in the crown of the domestic public health system , which he then followed up with a heavyweight private cardiovascular hospital , CVS Kuala Lumpur .
“ In spite of all his contributions , when I look at him , what I see is someone who has a deep humility and the grit to advance further in his career . Dr Yahya has always refused to stop at what he ’ s achieved , and demands to push himself further . It ’ s as much an honour for myself and the committee members to vote on him for this title as I ’ m sure it is for the doctor himself to receive it ,” said Dr Jacob .
To cap a Malaysian hat-trick of leading awards , the jury chose to give out the Outstanding Leadership in Healthcare Travel Award to the CEO of the Malaysia Healthcare Travel Council , Sherene Azli , for her efforts amid a period of deep disruption for all Asian countries .
As an administrator of one of Malaysia ’ s leading hospital groups , Dr Jacob has been appreciative of the council ’ s efforts for many years .
“ MHTC ’ s leadership in making sure that the hospitals that are its members are able to attract patients not just from our neighbouring countries , but even from far away ,” Dr Jacob said .
“ This is a body with a voice that shouts out how good healthcare in this country is . And it doesn ’ t just focus on the high standards of Malaysian healthcare , but also on the ethical and quality care that we are able to give .
“ Malaysia has been badly hit with the pandemic this year ; even so , MHTC has compensated for this and been working online to promote the country as we wait for the borders to open once this pandemic is over . Because of its efforts , we will be immediately ready to be able to attract patients once again ,” he added .
GlobalHealthAsiaPacific . com DECEMBER 2020
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