Kota Kinabalu: Ten more clinics at Universiti Malaysia Sabah Hospital (HUMS) are expected to begin operations by the end of May, bringing the total to 15 clinics providing various healthcare services.
HUMS Director Prof Madya Dr Malehah Datuk Mohd Noh said the five clinics already in operation are a family medicine clinic, an obesity clinic, a one-stop diabetic centre, a dietetics clinic and a psychiatry clinic.
“We expect all clinics to be equipped by May, covering major medical specialties, including general medicine, obstetrics and gynaecology (women’s health), paediatrics (children’s health) and others,” she told reporters after the launch of the HUMS Primary Medical Centre, officiated by UMS Board of Directors Chairman Datuk Seri Abdul Rahman Dahlan, here, Monday.
She said the hospital is currently operating in its first phase, focusing on outpatient treatment. In 2027, they will expand to inpatient services before launching 24-hour emergency services and hospital operations in 2028.
“If everything is smooth by June, we will open to the public,” she said.
In terms of manpower and staff, Malehah said there are 788 at present, which is sufficient for outpatient services.
“In the next phase, we will introduce blood transfusion services, endoscopy procedures as well as same-day minor procedures and surgeries,” she said, adding that there is a need to scale up on staffing to meet new demands.
Malehah said HUMS admits about 100 undergraduate medical students every year, and is discussing plans with the Ministry of Higher Education (KPT) to increase the intake to 150 students.
She said the existing UMS healthcare services such as the Polyclinic and Pusat Rawatan Warga (PRW) remain unchanged, as university staff and community remain a priority group.
According to her, the core values of HUMS – innovation, sustainability, compassion, collaboration and integrity – form the foundation of its culture, decision-making and patient care approach.
“These values guide not only clinical practices but also how staff interact with patients, colleagues and the wider community,” she said.
She said HUMS provides real-world clinical exposure to undergraduate and postgraduate medical students, specialist trainees, nurses, medical assistants and their allied health professionals, allowing trainees to apply theoretical knowledge in practical settings under the supervision of experienced clinicians.
Additionally, HUMS contributes to the development of specialist expertise within Sabah, helping address regional shortages of highly-trained medical professionals.
“We aim to deliver high-quality, accessible and advanced healthcare services to the people of Sabah while maintaining professional excellence and patient-centred care.
“Ultimately, we envision Hospital UMS not merely as a treatment centre, but as a comprehensive healthcare hub that improves community health outcomes, nurtures and develops future healthcare professionals and contributes meaningfully to the advancement of the healthcare sector in Sabah,” she said.
