KOTA KINABALU: A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been signed between two leading healthcare providers to improve and expand services available to patients. KPJ Sabah Specialist Hospital formalised its partnership with Permai Polyclinics Group during a ceremony held at KPJ.
Representing KPJ was Regional Chief Executive Officer of KPJ East Malaysia, Dr. Kenny Yeap Kim Peay, while Permai Polyclinics was represented by its Founder and Chairman, Datuk Dr. James Jeremiah.
Following the signing, Dr. Kenny expressed optimism about the collaboration, describing it as a significant step towards enhancing healthcare delivery. “This partnership is an excellent initiative because many tertiary centres are striving to advance healthcare paradigms, making services more focused, cost-effective, and mutually beneficial. As healthcare costs continue to escalate, our aim is to increase accessibility by leveraging each other’s strengths, rather than bearing the entire burden ourselves,” he explained.
He outlined plans to utilise the primary care facilities of Permai Group, which lack the advanced resources available at tertiary centres. Drawing inspiration from models in Australia over the past five years, including home visits, hospital-at-home programmes, teleconsultations, and home care. KPJ aims to adapt these strategies locally. Such services require minimal capital investment but could significantly improve access to healthcare, especially for patients who benefit from receiving care at home or at primary level.
“While KPJ’s centres are equipped with state-of-the-art technology and are recognised as centres of excellence, the partnership also emphasises extending care beyond hospital walls. To support this, KPJ has developed an innovative app designed to assist primary care providers in referring patients and monitoring their progress remotely. For instance, patients receiving palliative care following chemotherapy for lung cancer can be managed at home, reducing hospital costs and enabling continuous follow-up through the app.”
This collaboration is expected to aid the government by lowering costs across primary and secondary care sectors, particularly within private healthcare. It will also improve the accessibility and affordability of polyclinics without increasing fees. The initiative primarily targets existing patients, including those in the B40 income group, who already access healthcare through insurance or other channels. Services such as wound care, medication management, and vital sign monitoring will be provided through close collaboration between general practitioners and specialists.
Dr. Kenny emphasised that this partnership is just the beginning of a strengthened relationship. “We aim to enhance education, skills, and referral systems with ongoing feedback and regular follow-ups, similar to collaborations between government and healthcare providers. Ultimately, our goal is to delegate appropriate care to the primary level—particularly for long-term or less complex cases, thus reducing overall costs,” he added.
Although this partnership has been in development for several years, today’s formal signing marks a new chapter, akin to a relationship that has now been officially recognised and strengthened. Both parties are optimistic about the future, viewing this initiative as a step towards building a “family” dedicated to improving healthcare access and quality for all.
