KPJ Healthcare Bhd has launched its first kidney transplant service within its hospital network, marking a major step in expanding access to advanced specialist care through its Tawakkal Specialist Hospital (TSH) in Kuala Lumpur.
The service is now available at TSH as part of efforts to strengthen the KPJ Health System and provide treatment options for suitable patients with kidney failure. The launch follows a successful kidney transplant procedure carried out earlier this year involving a living related donor, underscoring the hospital’s readiness to handle complex transplant cases.
The procedure was performed by Consultant Urologist Dr Norman Dublin and Professor Dr Azad Hassan Abdul Razack alongside Consultant Nephrologist and Internal Medicine Specialist Dr Muhammad Iqbal Abdul Hafidz, supported by a multidisciplinary clinical team covering anaesthesiology, radiology, intensive care, nursing and allied health services.
KPJ Healthcare President and Managing Director Chin Keat Chyuan said “The launch of the Kidney Transplant Service marks an important milestone in the continued development of advanced clinical capabilities under the KPJ Health System. It reflects our commitment to broaden access to highly specialised treatment and strengthen the range of complex care available to patients across the KPJ network. Kidney transplantation requires strong clinical governance, specialist expertise and long-term follow-up. This service demonstrates how the KPJ Health System brings these capabilities together to support patients who require advanced treatment and ongoing care. Guided by our Care for Life purpose, we remain committed to developing capabilities that support patients throughout every stage of their healthcare journey.”
Chief Medical Director of KPJ Healthcare Professor Dato’ Dr Hanafiah Harunarashid said “For suitable patients with end-stage kidney disease, kidney transplantation can offer improved quality of life and reduce dependence on long-term dialysis. The availability of this service enables patients to access comprehensive transplant care supported by specialist teams throughout the treatment journey.”
Medical Director of Tawakkal Specialist Hospital Dr Nurhashim Haron said “The launch of the Kidney Transplant Service marks an important milestone for Tawakkal Specialist Hospital. It builds on the hospital’s longstanding involvement in renal care, including renal transplant procedures performed during the 1980s under the leadership of the late Datuk Dr Hussein Awang, urologist and co-founder of Tawakkal Specialist Hospital, who performed Malaysia’s first renal transplant in 1975. We are honoured to continue that legacy by making kidney transplantation available to a new generation of patients.”
The new service reflects KPJ Healthcare’s broader push to expand complex and specialised care across its network, supported by integrated clinical pathways and multidisciplinary expertise.
