NOT JUST TRAINING: PPSK–HPUSM BECOMES A REFERENCE CENTRE FOR RADIATION PROTECTION EXPERTISE

KUBANG KERIAN, 2 August 2026 – The commitment to radiation safety and the development of professional competencies continues to be strengthened as the School of Health Sciences (PPSK), Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM), in collaboration with USM Specialist Hospital (HPUSM), organised the Radiation Protection Officer (Medical) [RPO(M)] Certification Training Course Series 4 from 2 to 4 August 2026.

A total of 37 participants from various government, private and university healthcare institutions across Malaysia attended the course. These included University Malaya Medical Centre, Sultan Ahmad Shah Medical Centre @ IIUM, Cengild G.I. Medical Centre, Gleneagles Hospital Sabah, UCSI Hospital, as well as government hospitals and government and private health clinics.

Series 4 also welcomed participants from Icon Cancer Centre Singapore, including an alumnus of PPSK. This participation reflects PPSK's growing network of expertise and international visibility.

Beyond theoretical learning, participants were also taken to the HPUSM Department of Radiology for first-hand exposure to the application of radiation technology in a real clinical environment, including CT Scan, Fluoroscopy and Mammography facilities.

This experience provided participants with an opportunity to connect knowledge, technology and clinical practice to ensure that radiation is used safely and responsibly.

Most notably, PPSK obtained a Class H Licence in December 2024, making PPSK–HPUSM the first RPO(M) training centre in Malaysia. To date, the PPSK–HPUSM RPO(M) Training Unit has trained more than 150 Radiation Protection Officers (Medical) from among more than 7,000 Ministry of Health Malaysia (MOH) licensed officers nationwide.

This is more than just an achievement. It is evidence that the academic expertise of PPSK, the clinical strength of HPUSM and the network of expertise at the Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi Cancer Centre (PKTAAB), USM, are capable of providing professional training that has a direct impact on the safety of patients, healthcare personnel and the wider community.

Congratulations and appreciation to the entire PPSK, HPUSM and PKTAAB community for their continued contribution of expertise and commitment towards the success of this initiative.

Together, strengthening professional competency.
Together, ensuring radiation safety.
Together, taking USM's expertise further.

Text and photos: Muhammad Arsyad Mazni
Edited by: Amyrulhan Azhari