Ministry of Health Director-General Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah was awarded the 2021 Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh’s (RCSEd) International Medal in recognition of his contributions to surgery in Malaysia.
He received the medal from RCSEd President Professor Michael Griffin at a dinner at the college in Edinburgh recently to welcome their honorary fellow, Yang Di Pertuan Besar Negri Sembilan Tuanku Muhriz Almarhum Tuanku Munawir, who is also the Royal Chancellor of Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia. Accompanying him was Tunku Ampuan Besar Tuanku Aishah Rohani Almarhum Tengku Besar Mahmud.
Griffin said it was a well-deserved medal for Dr Noor Hisham’s outstanding services in the field of surgical care.
“This award represents the culmination of hard work, dedication, and sacrifice from Dr Noor Hisham, who has made such a difference to the lives of patients in Malaysia.”
Dr Noor Hisham, who received the prestigious Fellowship Ad Hominem of the RCSEd in 2018, said he was honoured to receive the recognition. He hoped Malaysia would be a model for other countries in training experts to help surgeries in rural areas.
“Our country is championing the cause of global surgery, and we have adopted and embraced creative ideas and innovation to increase the quality of surgery in our country as well as to provide surgery in rural areas.
“This collaboration has improved and increased the capacity of our country. Our country has become a role model for lower middle-income countries,” said Dr Noor Hisham after receiving the award.
King congratulates Dr Noor Hisham
He added: “Our Health Minister has been appointed as vice-president of the World Health Assembly and the first Vice-Chair of its Executive Board and we can actually push this agenda of global surgery to increase the quality of care in terms of affordability, access and equity of global surgery to lower middle-income countries.
“If you look into the data, 30 per cent the global disease burden is surgical-based. Therefore, it is important for the World Health Organisation to focus on global surgery to improve the quality of care particularly in lower middle-income countries,” he said.
Meanwhile, Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah and Raja Permaisuri Agong Tunku Hajah Azizah Aminah Maimunah Iskandariah extended their congratulations to Dr Noor Hisham.
Istana Negara in a post on its Facebook said Their Majesties expressed joy and pride on the conferment of the honour, which at the same time boosted Malaysia’s name on the world stage.
“The award proves that Malaysia is capable of producing individuals of quality, calibre and international standard,” the post said.
Their Majesties also expressed their best wishes to Dr Noor Hisham and prayed that he would be blessed with continued excellence. – The Health
