The Pengiran Anak Puteri Rashidah Sa'adatul Bolkiah Institute of Health Sciences (PAPRSB IHS) is building new extension buildings that will triple its current size. Dr Hajah Maslina binti Hj Mohsin, Dean of PAPRSB IHS, said the new building would include new lecture rooms, theatres, clinic, and health centre and incorporate a simulation area for health students at the institute.
In relation to the clinic, she said the patients will be the students in the university, including those in other faculties. However, if there is a need to extend the services to the community in the area, it will be possible, but naturally it would not be logical to overlap services from the Ministry of Health in that area.
Asked about the possibility in the future to eventually set up a university hospital. Dr Hjh Maslina, who is also the Director of Health Services in the country, said setting up a university hospital is a totally new ball game. But Brunei is hoping to build a second hospital in Brunei-Muara District, and the proposed area might not be far from the university campus.
Dr Mohd Ayub Sadiq @ Lin Naing, the Deputy Dean of PAPRSB IHS said, with the new extension, it is now possible for the institute to provide the students with simulation wards and incorporate real patient clinic. The institute is attracting students locally as well as from abroad. He said there is still room for more students to enrol in the institute. It is important to educate students that health services in a noble profession. The emergence of "centres of excellence" like the Pengiran Anak Puteri Rashidah Sa'adatul Bolkiah Institute of Health Sciences will not be "at the expense of" the institutions in the UK, Mr Rob Fenn, the British High Commissioner said yesterday during his visit.
These institutions in the UK have for so long attracted Bruneian students, he said. "Public health and education occupy strategic positions in Brunei's national life, and are areas where the UK and Brunei can take their longstanding partnership to new levels. "I am a strong supporter of human capital development here in Brunei, as well as in the UK. This is not a zero sum game … quite the reverse, especially in highly technical areas such as medicine."
"The fact that Brunei's ministers of health and education have both visited the UK this year to explore partnerships with British universities and teaching hospitals underscores the fact that we are together looking for new ways to strengthen Brunei's public health infrastructure. I hope this can extend to areas such as improved IT and management information systems, drawing on British expertise in that key area," he said.
During the visit, the British official was briefed by the Dean of PAPRSB IHS, Dr Hajah Maslina, who is also the Director of Health Services, Ministry of Health. The British high commissioner also heard from Dr Mohd Ayub Sadiq @ Lin Naing, the Deputy Dean of PAPRSB and Hjh Jainah binti Hj Musa, progamme Leader of Nursing and Midwifery.
By Azaraimy HH
