Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Shamsul Azri Abu Bakar convened a meeting on July 23, 2026, to tackle critical service problems at Universiti Malaya Medical Centre (UMMC or PPUM) [1, 2, 3, 4]. The session brought together secretaries-general from the Higher Education and Health ministries, the Vice-Chancellor of Universiti Malaya, and the hospital's management team [1, 2, 3, 4].
Public grievances focused on long waiting times, clinical service challenges, and shortages of skilled personnel and specialist expertise at the facility [1, 2, 3, 4]. The meeting aimed at identifying solutions to these pressing issues while maintaining the medical centre’s role as both a leading teaching hospital and a tertiary healthcare provider [4].
Tan Sri Shamsul Azri highlighted that "healthcare service delivery has always been a priority for the MADANI Government," and stressed that "PPUM is a teaching hospital, and its services are delivered in accordance with its role, capacity and capabilities" [1, 4]. He directed "immediate action be taken on the decisions reached during the discussion" to improve the quality and timeliness of care [1].
The Chief Secretary also emphasized the importance of balancing UMMC’s clinical duties with its teaching responsibilities, ensuring patients receive care aligned with the institution's capacity [1, 4].
Following the meeting, the government committed to implementing measures aimed at strengthening service delivery and addressing personnel shortages at the medical centre [1, 2, 3, 4].
Efforts will focus on deploying skilled professionals and enhancing clinical operations in a way that supports UMMC’s dual role as an academic and tertiary healthcare institution. The meeting’s decisions are now in the execution phase, with oversight by the relevant ministries and hospital management teams [4].
