Sunway Medical Centre Velocity And ISN Partner To Strengthen Athlete Care And Recovery

KUALA LUMPUR, April 17 (Bernama) -- Sunway Medical Centre Velocity (SMCV) and the National Sports Institute (ISN) have entered into a strategic partnership to strengthen athlete care and recovery, with a focus on specialised treatment, surgical care, rehabilitation and safe return-to-sport support for national athletes and sports professionals.

In a statement, SMCV said both parties had signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to formalise a collaboration aimed at providing a more seamless, coordinated and specialised healthcare journey for athletes and ISN staff.

It said the partnership reflects a shared commitment to support ISN athletes and staff across the full spectrum of medical needs, particularly in surgical intervention, rehabilitation, post-operative recovery and return-to-sport management.

“At the heart of the partnership is a shared goal to provide ISN athletes and staff with a holistic and streamlined healthcare experience, one that ensures timely access to the right treatment, rehabilitation and recovery support.

“It also provides a framework for closer clinical partnership, mutual referrals and continuous knowledge sharing between SMCV specialists and ISN’s sports science and medical teams," it said.

The MoU signing ceremony was officiated by SMCV chief executive officer (CEO) Susan Cheow, and medical director and consultant emergency physician Dr Wee Tong Ming, as well as a delegation of SMCV consultants, orthopaedic and trauma surgeons, namely Dr Chang Kok Chun, Dr Ng Swee Soon and Dr Yuen Jin Chuan, of whom the latter two are also arthroplasty surgeons.

Also present were SMCV sports surgeons, Dr Aminudin Mohamed Shamsudin and Dr Raymond Yeak Dieu Kiat, alongside consultant dermatologist Datin Dr Nur Ashikin Ahmad

Representing ISN were its CEO Dr Vellapandian Ponnusamy, Sport Science Division director Dr Mohamad Fajar Mohamed Kasim, head of Sports Care Department Dr Ahmad Munawwar Helmi Salim, head of Sports Medicine Department Dr Amir Azwan Azman, head of Rehabilitation Unit Muhd Noorfaizalazrul Muhammad Azalai, and head of Sports Medicine Management Centre Nor Azian Khalid @ Abd Malek.

SMCV said eligible ISN athletes and staff will benefit across a range of key selected services at SMCV, which include outpatient treatments and inpatient stays, post-operative recovery, radiology services such as MRI, CT scans and X-rays, orthopaedic care for bone, sports injury, joint and muscle-related conditions, as well as dermatology services for skin-related sports conditions.

To support seamless access to these services, the MoU also establishes a streamlined referral system between SMCV and ISN, allowing athletes and staff to access the combined facilities and expertise of both institutions throughout their care journey.

In the same statement, Cheow was quoted as saying that the collaboration with ISN reflects their shared commitment to supporting the health and recovery of Malaysia's athletes and sports professionals.

“More importantly, this is not intended to be a one-off arrangement, but the beginning of a sustainable partnership that brings together complementary strengths to deliver measurable and lasting benefits for our national athletes,” she said.

She noted that with surgical intervention and post-operative recovery forming a key focus, both institutions aim to ensure treatment plans are aligned not only with recovery, but also with the specific medical and surgical needs of each athlete's sport or discipline.

The statement mentioned that the partnership places strong emphasis on evidence-based return-to-sport protocols to help athletes resume competition safely, confidently and at peak performance levels.

Meanwhile, Vellapandian said that “our athletes represent the pride of the nation, and ensuring they have access to top-tier medical expertise is central to our mission at ISN”.

“This partnership with SMCV enhances our ability to provide a comprehensive healthcare safety net, especially when specialised surgical intervention or advanced diagnostic imaging is required. By bridging the gap between sports and clinical excellence, we are giving our athletes the best possible support to overcome injuries and return to the podium,” he added.

The MoU would also support continuous exchange of medical knowledge, clinical expertise and best practices between SMCV and ISN, with the aim of further enhancing treatment quality, improving recovery outcomes and strengthening the overall standard of care available to Malaysia’s sporting community.

SMCV said the agreement also introduces a mutual cross-referral framework, allowing athletes and staff to benefit from the combined strengths, facilities and expertise of both institutions. This integrated approach is intended to provide more comprehensive support across sports medicine, rehabilitation, surgery and related medical disciplines

Through this partnership, SMCV and ISN reaffirm their commitment to building a stronger ecosystem of care for athletes and sports professionals, one that supports not only treatment and recovery, but long-term health, resilience and performance.

-- BERNAMA