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The University Malaya Medical Center (UMMC) joined an elite group of healthcare providers when they were recognized by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) as part of its AFC Medical Center of Excellence at a ceremony here today.
UMMC, the largest and oldest teaching hospital in Malaysia and the country’s second largest hospital, takes its place in a world-class network of medical centers that include the Aspetar Orthopedic and Sports Medicine Hospital in Qatar and Malaysia’s National Sports Medicine Center – National Sports Institute .
As part of the established centers under the AFC Medical Center of Excellence, UMMC will now serve as an AFC accredited referral center for Asian footballers and be part of the AFC’s worldwide grid of AFC Medical Officers and AFC Doping Control Officers.
In recognizing UMMC, AFC General Secretary Datuk Seri Windsor John said: “As our teams and players continue to shine on the world stage, the AFC is committed to ensuring our players obtain world-class medical treatment.
“I want to thank UMMC for supporting the AFC’s Vision to safeguard and promote the health of our players. Our partnership represents the beginning of yet another chapter in improving the level of sports medicine in the region, and UMMC’s commitment will be crucial to this.
“At the same time, collaborative research studies with the AFC Medical Committee and other Centers will also drive and raise the standards of medical care and awareness in football.”
Also present at the ceremony were Dato’ Dr Gurcharan Singh, Chairperson of the AFC Medical Committee, Mr. Andrew Colin Mercer, General Counsel & Director of Legal Affairs of AFC, UMMC Director Professor Dr. Nazirah Hasnan and its Sports Medicine Department Head, Professor Madya Dr. Mohd Nahar Azmi Mohamed.
The AFC Medical Center of Excellence was launched in 2018 to offer Asian footballers optimal healthcare by knowing continental medical centers demonstrating leadership in clinical research and education expertise, injury prevention and management measures as well as looking at means to improve sports medicine research.
Reflecting on the significance of the ceremony, the UMMC Head of Sports Medicine Department, Dr. Mohd Nahar Azmi Mohamed said: “This Confederation includes a large number of professional athletes and in order for them to do their best, many different factors need to be taken into account, one of which is their health and wellbeing.
We have come a long way and it’s time for us to start a new chapter. This recognition will encourage us to become even better in the future.”
