MIRI: The launch of the Fudan Integrative (Southeast Asia) Medicine Research Centre marks a strategic shift in the region’s healthcare landscape, positioning Miri as a rising hub for medical innovation, AI-driven diagnostics and research-led clinical practice.
During a site visit to the former Miri City Council building (OMCC), which is now being transformed for the centre, Minister for Transport, Dato Sri Lee Kim Shin, said the development reflects a clear commitment to building local medical capacity rather than relying on external expertise.
“This centre is a long-term investment in our own people. We are building a pipeline of skilled medical professionals who can be trained, developed and retained here in Sarawak.”
The centre draws on Fudan University’s AI medical platforms refined over years of research in China. It will integrate Western clinical science with traditional Chinese medicine in areas such as drug development, treatment planning and clinical training. The aim is to deliver healthcare that is precise, evidence-guided and responsive to community needs.
The move also lays the foundation for the Fudan School of Medicine in Miri, a significant step toward establishing a full university campus in the city. The school is expected to address the persistent shortage of medical practitioners in Sarawak and expand opportunities for medical education in the region.
Situated within the Kenyalang Smart City development, the research centre is positioned to attract investment, create skilled employment and draw research partnerships that extend beyond Sarawak. It reinforces international collaboration between Sarawak and China in medical science, technology transfer and academic exchange.
Key focus areas include AI-supported diagnosis, new drug development that blends traditional herbal knowledge with modern pharmacology, and blockchain-secured digital medical records. These innovations are projected to raise healthcare quality and accessibility across Sarawak and Southeast Asia.
“This is not simply a research facility. It is a strategic platform for Miri’s development and for Sarawak’s future in the global health technology sector,” Lee added.
Lee was accompanied by Imasa Dinasti Sdn Bhd chairman Teo Ah Khing, whose firm is overseeing the redevelopment of the heritage building into a research and medical training centre.
