Tuaran, Beluran Hospitals to pioneer digital healthcare transformation in Sabah
KOTA KINABALU (June 2): Despite over three decades of dedicated service since its establishment in 1993, Tuaran Hospital has experienced limited progress in digital healthcare transformation.
Recognizing the urgent need to modernize and optimize healthcare delivery, Allyssa Certification Sdn Bhd, under the platform of the BIMP-EAGA Business Council (Sabah), has taken a proactive step to address these systemic challenges.
In June 2024, Allyssa Certification Sdn Bhd — an operating arm of the BIMP-EAGA Business Council (Sabah) — together with its technology partners, MQuest Malaysia Sdn Bhd and Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS), engaged in a strategic dialogue with the Chief Minister of Sabah to present proposed digital healthcare solutions.
Following the meeting, the Chief Minister's Department recommended direct engagement with the Permanent Secretary (Datuk Maria Chong) of the Ministry of Community Development and People's Wellbeing to advance the initiative.
As a result, a Proof of Concept (PoC) was successfully implemented at Tuaran Hospital and partially at Beluran Hospital, with endorsement and support from the ministry. This initiative aligns with the BIMP-EAGA (Brunei Darussalam–Indonesia–Malaysia–Philippines East ASEAN Growth Area) Vision 2025, which prioritizes digitalization as a catalyst for economic integration, innovation and regional resilience.
Dr Raymond Alfred, chairman of BIMP-EAGA (Sabah) and CEO of Allyssa Certification Sdn Bhd, believes the digital healthcare initiative will position Tuaran and Beluran Hospitals for enhanced operational efficiency, improved patient outcomes, and readiness for advanced technologies, including Artificial Intelligence (AI).
The technical report and outcomes of the PoC were formally submitted to Datuk James Ratib, Sabah's Minister of Community Development and People's Wellbeing, by the project team comprising Dr Raymond Alfred (Allyssa Certification), Prof Ts Dr Rayner Alfred (MIMOS), Dr Rayner Pailus (UMS), Lim Boon Seng (MQ Singapore), and Rayyan Radzwill Abdullah (MQuest Malaysia).
James acknowledged the success of the initiative and affirmed the value it brings to Sabah, including (i) Improved access to healthcare for remote and underserved communities, (ii) Accelerated data-driven state-level health policy decisions, (iii) Enhanced efficiency and transparency in the allocation of healthcare resources and (iv) future-proof, autonomous digital healthcare ecosystem tailored to Sabah's unique needs
He further recognized the tangible achievements of the PoC, including (i) Full integration of digital platforms across key hospital departments, (ii) Transition of critical workflows (e.g., triage, clinical encounters) from paper-based to digital, (iii) Real-time clinical and operational dashboards for informed decision-making, (iv) Integration of laboratory, radiology, and pharmacy modules with the Hospital Information System (HIS), (v) Deployment of AI-enabled tools to support clinical decision-making, (vi) Standards-based interoperability with the national health database
'This initiative represents a pivotal turning point for Tuaran and Beluran Hospitals,' said James. 'It is a low-risk, high-impact transformation that has the potential to set a new benchmark for smarter, more efficient healthcare delivery in the region. My ministry is fully committed to providing the necessary support to ensure the successful and timely implementation of this initiative.'
Raymond extends his sincere appreciation to Permanent Secretary (Datuk Maria Chong) of the Ministry of Community Development and People's Wellbeing, Dr Primus John, Director of Tuaran Hospital, and Dr Aldasir B. Rudy, Director of Beluran Hospital, for their valuable suggestions, contributions, and close cooperation during the implementation of the Proof of Concept.
Allyssa Certification Sdn Bhd, together with its technology partners, remains fully committed to supporting both hospitals in their journey to become the first fully digital hospitals in Sabah. This pioneering initiative is set to transform patient care and hospital operations, ushering in a new era of digital healthcare excellence within the BIMP-EAGA region.
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