Rehabilitation medicine isn’t just about treatment; it’s about restoring lives, said chairperson of the Rehabilitation Medicine Symposium and head of the Rehabilitation Department of the Brunei Neuroscience Stroke and Rehabilitation Centre (BNSRC) Dr Abang Haji Muhd Fahmy bin Abang Haji Hepnie at Pantai Jerudong Specialist Centre (PJSC) yesterday.
He also noted the transformative role of rehabilitation medicine and stressed on the importance of rehabilitation in helping a patient to regain independence and mobility following an illness, injury or surgery. The symposium, themed ‘Lessons from ASEAN Rehabilitation Medicine Leaders’, brought together experts across the region to discuss advancements and exchange insights into rehabilitation medicine and positioning it as a vital aspect of patient-centred healthcare.
PJSC Executive Director Dr Haji Mazrul Adimin bin Haji Besar officiated the symposium that featured a plenary lecture on ‘Academic Capacity Building in Rehabilitation Medicine: The Malaysian Experience’ by Professor Dato’ Dr Zaliha Omar from the University of Malaya Medical Centre in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
It continued with featured talks and panel sessions by experts in rehabilitation medicine holding key leadership positions in institutions across the region.
Among them were Professor Jerico Santiago Dela Cruz, Chairperson of the ASEAN Rehabilitation Medicine Association, Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Philippine General Hospital College of Medicine, University of the Philippines; Professor Teresita Joy Evangelista, Professor, University of the Philippines college of Medicine Philippines; and Professor Witsanu Kumthornthip, Assistant Professor, Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand.
Professor Paitoon Benjapornlert, Assistant Professor, Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, Thailand; Professor Angela Bibiana Maria Tulaar; Professor, Senior Consultant, Teaching Staff, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Faculty of Medicine, University of Indonesia; Professor Betty D Mancao, Chair, Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Manila Medical Centre, and Professor, University of the Philippines Manila, College of Medicine also attended.
The symposium not only marked a significant step forward in the Sultanate’s effort to expand its rehabilitation services but also underscored the global importance of integrating rehabilitation into the healthcare system. – Fadley Faisal
