The Establishment of the Public Health Department at Universiti Malaya Medical Centre

Introduction

On 18 January 2016, the Public Health Department (PHD) or Jabatan Kesihatan Awam (JKA) was officially launched as a clinical department at Universiti Malaya Medical Centre (UMMC). The establishment of PHD marks a significant milestone in the expansion of public health services within UMMC, enhancing efforts in disease prevention, health promotion, and public health consultation for the hospital community.

Prior to the launch of PHD, the involvement of the Department of Social and Preventive Medicine (SPM), Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Malaya in clinical services at UMMC was primarily focused on occupational health, safety, and environmental health. These services were provided through the Occupational Safety, Health, and Environmental (OSHE) Unit and the Occupational Health Clinic (OHC), which had been instrumental in managing workplace safety and health surveillance for healthcare workers since its establishment in 2005.

With the launch of PHD, public health services in UMMC expanded beyond occupational health to include a more comprehensive scope of infection prevention and control, disease surveillance, environmental health monitoring, health policy development, and staff wellness programs. The department now serves as a centralised public health unit, strengthening UMMC’s ability to manage hospital-based public health risks and implement preventive strategies.

Objectives and Core Functions

The department’s primary objectives are to:

1. Protect health and wellness by implementing public health interventions within UMMC.
2. Prevent diseases and outbreaks through surveillance, infection control, and health risk management.
3. Promote and encourage a healthy lifestyle among staff, patients, and the wider community.
4. Provide public health consultation services to support hospital-wide and community health initiatives.

In fulfilling its mission, PHD will perform three core functions of public health:

1. Assessment: Identifying and evaluating the health needs of the UMMC community to guide preventive strategies.
2. Policy Expansion: Developing evidence-based health policies to enhance disease control and wellness programs.
3. Assurance: Managing resources and disseminating public health knowledge to raise awareness and improve health literacy.

Conclusion

The establishment of PHD strengthen the involvement of the Department of SPM in offering services in UMMC. The PHD offers an opportunity for Public Health Medicine Specialist and other Faculty members from SPM to strengthen their public health services and research. Additionally, postgraduate students from SPM will now benefit from experiential learning opportunities in hospital-based public health practice through structured training and fieldwork within the department.

The recognition of the Public Health Department (PHD) at UMMC establishes a strong foundation for public health practice within the hospital setting. With a commitment to disease prevention, health promotion, and policy development, PHD is poised to play a crucial role in enhancing healthcare quality and advancing public health education at UMMC and beyond.