Datuk Dr Muhammad Radzi Abu Hassan, Director-General of Health, Ministry of Health Malaysia (third from left), and Founder and Chairman of Sunway Group, Tan Sri Dato’ Seri Sir Dr. Jeffrey Cheah KBE AO (third from right), witnessed the handing over of Joint Commission International (JCI) Accreditation, The Gold Seal of Approval crest by Nick Liew, International Manager, Asia Pacific of Joint Commission International (JCI) (second from right) to Dato’ Lau Beng Long, President of Sunway Healthcare Group (SHG) (second from left) during a ceremony held at Sunway Medical Centre, Sunway City. Also present were Dr. Khoo Chow Huat, Managing Director (Hospital & Healthcare Operations), SHG (first from left) and Dr Seow Vei Ken, Chief Executive Officer of Sunway Medical Centre, Sunway City (first from right)
Sunway Medical Centre, Sunway City (SMC) has received the prestigious and globally recognised Joint Commission International (JCI) Accreditation, The Gold Seal of Approval under its Hospital Program. With this recently acquired accolade, SMC is the first hospital in the country to obtain three major hospital-wide accreditations, including the Australian Council on Healthcare Standards (ACHS) and the Malaysian Society for Quality in Health (MSQH), further bolstering its stature for healthcare excellence. This significant achievement highlights SMC’s commitment to providing world-class healthcare services and upholding the highest standards of patient care and safety.
As Malaysia’s largest quaternary private hospital, SMC underwent JCI’s systematic performance assessment, demonstrating its commitment to ensuring patient safety and healthcare quality. The comprehensive evaluation process involved a thorough review of SMC’s policies, procedures, and practices to ensure compliance with JCI’s stringent standards. This included assessments of patient care, medication management, infection control, patient and family rights, staff qualifications and education, and facility management and safety.
Dato’ Lau Beng Long, President of Sunway Healthcare Group, said; “Being one of the Southeast Asia’s leading private healthcare providers, this significant JCI accreditation of SMC – alongside our pioneering ACHS accreditation since 2014 – serve to prove that we hold ourselves to the highest standards in patient safety and strive to meet the healthcare needs of our communities by providing high-quality care and services. Nearly a million local and international patients walk through our hospital doors every year, and we want to give our patients and their families the peace of mind, knowing they are in good hands. This acknowledgement from JCI is especially significant for us as SMC is approaching its 25th anniversary this year.”
Officiating the award ceremony, Datuk Dr Muhammad Radzi Abu Hassan, Director-General of Health, Ministry of Health Malaysia added, “The prestigious JCI accreditation of Sunway Medical Centre not only underscores its dedication to delivering high-quality care but also positions it as a key player in advancing Malaysia’s healthcare objectives. By setting benchmarks in healthcare excellence, it plays a crucial role in enhancing healthcare accessibility and standards, aligning closely with the ambitious goals outlined in Malaysia’s Health White Paper. The Ministry of Health partners can rely on private sector partners like Sunway to promote preventive healthcare, early intervention, and health education, thereby fostering a healthier future for all Malaysians.”
“Joint Commission International accreditation equips hospitals with processes that help drive improvement across various areas, from enhancing staff education to showcasing leading practices within the hospital setting,” said Andrew Rosen, Vice President, Joint Commission International. “We commend Sunway Medical Centre for its commitment to becoming a quality improvement organisation and achieving JCI’s Gold Seal of Approval®, a universally recognised symbol of quality and patient safety.”
By earning this accreditation, SMC joins an elite group of healthcare organisations worldwide that have demonstrated excellence in patient care, treatment, and safety.
JCI is a division of the Joint Commission founded in 1997 through its non-profit affiliate, Joint Commission Resources (JCR), dedicated to foster healthcare excellence and advocate for the highest quality and patient care internationally. The JCI Accreditation is a globally recognised symbol of quality that reflects an organisation’s commitment to meeting rigorous performance standards.
Established in 1999, SMC is equipped with 28 Centres of Excellence with more than 60 medical specialities and 724 licensed beds, with capacity to expand to about 1,100 beds once the hospital completes its sixth block, Tower F by Q4 2025.
Alongside the JCI accreditation, SMC is also recognised as the ESMO Designated Centre of Integrated Oncology & Palliative Care, and is an accredited haematologist training centre by the Royal College of Pathologists of Australiasia.
SMC has also entered the prestigious list of the top 250 hospitals in the Newsweek World’s Best Hospitals 2024 rankings, and was in the Newsweek’s Best Specialized Hospitals Asia Pacific 2024 rankings recently, retaining top spot in Malaysia and ranked 26 in Asia Pacific (APAC) for Paediatrics, as well as secured spots among the top 75 hospitals in the Oncology, Neurology, Cardiology, Neurosurgery, and Cardiac Surgery categories within APAC.
