Pengiran Anak Puteri Rashidah Sa’adatul Bolkiah Institute of Health Sciences (PAPRSB IHS) invited stakeholders from the private and public sectors to discuss the direction of Health Sciences programmes in Brunei.

Held for the first time in the new IHS building, prospective stakeholders included Senior Officers from Jerudong Park Medical Centre (JPMC), the CEO from Panaga Health Centre, and Directors from the Ministry of Health (MoH) as well as the Ministry of Defence (MinDef). The outcome of discussions promises a bright future for Health Sciences in Brunei Darussalam and a dynamic institute with collaborations that reach out into global networks of medical partners.

At the meeting, stakeholders of the medical and clinical community learned about the Institute’s journey to its present state, including the marked success of its students in current partner universities. With over 10 affiliations and partnerships in Europe, Asia, the United States and the Middle East, IHS aims to seek out more potential partner medical schools in Australia which offer rich opportunities for future students to study in prestigious medical schools abroad. Prospective universities from Ireland and Scotland include the National University of Ireland, Galway; the University of College Cork, Ireland; and the University of Glasgow, UK.

Reflecting on the milestones of IHS, the institute also pointed out its community work, featuring visits to homes of elderly patients, blood donation drives and charity fund raising events. International Community work embarked on by students has been a particularly successful part of the GenNEXT programme and this was lauded by the stakeholders of the clinical community.

During the hi-tea session, IHS unveiled new exciting programmes to be introduced in the upcoming academic year such as Masters in Medical Education (MSc) and Advanced Diploma in Opthalmic Nursing. A-level students interested in the field of Health Sciences can also expect the introduction of BHSc (Dentistry), BHSc  (Physiotherapy) and Pharmacy undergraduate (MPharm) courses in the near future to provide a range of options and promising career paths into Medicine.

In addition, stakeholders gave constructive feedback as well as suggestions for collaboration between UBD and their respective departments. Captain Pg Hjh Saliza Pg Hj Ibrahim, a Medical Training Officer from MinDef expressed that staff from their ministry are keen to enrol in programmes offered by the Institute. The Director of Nursing Services from JPMC, Chung Yea Fui, echoed similar sentiments in hoping for flexible part-time training programmes, where nurses from JPMC could undergo professional development under the tutelage of IHS while enjoying access and full utilisation of the brand-new state-of-the-art facilities.

Since its inauguration in September 2000, IHS has matured into a centre for the development of health sciences in Brunei Darussalam, welcoming an eco-friendly extension to its building in 2014. Now offering Bachelor of Health Sciences in Medicine, Biomedical Sciences, Nursing and Midwifery,, IHS currently has 18 programmes and is looking to offer even more in the upcoming academic year as demand for local Health Sciences courses grows.