Dr Mohamad Helmi bin Mohamad Yasim, a Doctor of Public Health (DrPH) candidate from the Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Malaya, presented his research on robotic-assisted total knee arthroplasty (TKA) at the 57th Asia-Pacific Academic Consortium for Public Health (APACPH) Conference 2026, held in Tainan, Taiwan.
The conference, themed “Leveraging Healthcare Technology and Artificial Intelligence for Public Health and Wellness”, brought together public health researchers, healthcare professionals, academics and policymakers from across the Asia-Pacific region to explore how technological advancements can strengthen healthcare delivery, improve population health and support sustainable health systems.
In line with this theme, Dr Helmi’s research examined the implementation of ROSA robotic-assisted TKA at Universiti Malaya Medical Centre (UMMC), focusing on healthcare resource utilisation, operational efficiency and the economic implications of adopting innovative surgical technologies within Malaysia’s public healthcare system.
Preliminary findings suggest that ROSA-assisted TKA is associated with a shorter hospital length of stay without a statistically significant increase in operative time compared with conventional TKA. These findings highlight the potential of robotic-assisted surgery to improve patient flow, optimise hospital resource utilisation and contribute to cost avoidance, particularly through reduced hospital admissions.
Beyond the clinical benefits of robotic-assisted surgery, the research emphasises the importance of evaluating healthcare technologies from a broader public health and health economics perspective. Such evidence is essential to support informed decision-making, resource allocation and the sustainable implementation of innovative technologies in public healthcare institutions.
The presentation also provided an opportunity to share Malaysia’s experience in healthcare innovation with researchers, public health professionals and policymakers from across the Asia-Pacific region, fostering academic exchange and discussions on evidence-based healthcare improvement.
Dr Helmi expressed his sincere appreciation to his supervisors, Associate Professor Dr Nik Daliana Nik Farid and Professor Dr Maznah Dahlui, for their invaluable guidance, mentorship and continuous support throughout his doctoral journey. He also extended his gratitude to Dr Melvin Loh Kwong Weng from the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Universiti Malaya Medical Centre (UMMC), for his clinical expertise, collaboration and contributions to the research.
He further acknowledged the support of the Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Malaya, and the multidisciplinary teams at UMMC who contributed to the study.
This international presentation reflects Universiti Malaya’s continued commitment to advancing impactful research, strengthening interdisciplinary collaboration and translating scientific evidence into healthcare policies and practices.
The research underscores an important message: healthcare innovation should extend beyond technological advancement to deliver measurable value in patient care, hospital efficiency and long-term health system sustainability. Through research initiatives such as this, Universiti Malaya continues to contribute towards evidence-informed healthcare innovation and the advancement of public health in Malaysia and the wider Asia-Pacific region.
You must be logged in to post a comment.