Najib: Healthcare sector changing in line with Vision 2020

He said the sector demands high quality patient care services, in an environment that is continuously challenged by changes in customer requirements, emergence of new health risks, changes in medical technology and new applications of information technology.

"Hospital engineering is the fundamental foundation that is pre-requisite to quality healthcare facility, that, in return, is expected to promote and enhance quality patient care services.

"Thus, the theme 'Empowering Facility Management in Healthcare Engineering' is more relevant and mirrors the government's transformation strategies in improving healthcare services on a continual basis," he said in his opening speech at the Hospital Engineering International Conference and Exhibition 2013 in the capital, Thursday.

Najib noted that among others, the empowering strategy on facility management in healthcare engineering is expected to move the healthcare sector economy up the value chain, as well as raise the capacity for knowledge, innovation and nurturing of a first-class mentality in healthcare engineering.

He said the country has progressively undertaken various initiatives and programmes to improve the healthcare facility and engineering services.

"The development of public hospitals in Malaysia has migrated from the traditional design and build contract through to turnkey concept and most recently the public-private partnership approach.

"The latter is expected to provide long-term private sector commitment in developing and maintaining quality healthcare facility in partnership with the government," he added.

The two-day event beginning on Wednesday was organised by the Biomedical Engineering Association of Malaysia in collaboration with principal partners Advance Pact Sdn Bhd and Medivest Sdn Bhd, as well as partners Faber Mediserve Sdn Bhd and Radicare (M) Sdn Bhd, and supported by the Ministry of Health.