Double first! Hospital Canselor Tuanku Muhriz becomes Malaysia’s only medical centre with two World Stroke Organisation certifications

The HCTM stroke care team poses for a photo after receiving the World Stroke Organisation’s Advanced Stroke Rehabilitation certification in Seoul October 23, 2026. — Picture via Facebook/HCTM.UKM

First Published: Wednesday, 28 Oct 2026 10:44 AM MYT

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 28 — Hospital Canselor Tuanku Muhriz (HCTM), Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), has made history by receiving its second certification from the World Stroke Organisation (WSO), through the WSO Stroke Rehabilitation Center Certification (Advanced Level).

This makes HCTM the only medical centre in Malaysia to have obtained two WSO certifications. The latest recognition follows its achievement in obtaining the WSO Advanced Stroke Centre certification in 2024.

The certification was presented by WSO president Prof Dr Jeyaraj Pandian in Seoul, South Korea last Friday, to the HCTM Stroke Care Team led by Dr Nor Shahrina Mohd Zawawi, a speech-language therapist and Community Coordinator of the Stroke Rehabilitation Improvement Programme (Kompas) at HCTM’s Department of Medical Rehabilitation Services.

HCTM and UKM Faculty of Medicine stroke neurologist Associate Prof Datuk Dr Wan Asyraf Wan Zaidi said the certification recognised the implementation of evidence-based stroke rehabilitation, including the early management of swallowing difficulties, movement and communication therapy, as well as systematic discharge planning.

“The HCTM stroke care team also underwent interviews with the WSO audit team to ensure that the treatment provided met the latest quality standards and clinical practices,” he told Bernama.

Dr Wan Asyraf said the international recognition reflected the commitment and collaboration of HCTM’s multidisciplinary stroke team, comprising medical, nursing and allied health professionals, in providing comprehensive, high-quality, world-class stroke care and rehabilitation services to patients in Kuala Lumpur and surrounding areas.

Meanwhile, Dr Nor Shahrina said the achievement was the result of close collaboration among HCTM’s medical, nursing, stroke rehabilitation and multidisciplinary healthcare professionals.

She said the team also guided stroke patients’ caregivers to help them support the recovery process and provide the care needed.

According to her, the achievement demonstrated a holistic rehabilitation approach that began while patients were still in the ward and continued after discharge through outpatient services.

“Throughout the process, patients are not only helped to regain independent mobility, self-care skills and communication abilities, but are also guided in returning to driving, depending on their individual capabilities.

“These efforts are crucial to improving patients’ quality of life after a stroke,” she said. — Bernama