Establishing a Centre of Excellence for Social Accountability in Health at Universiti Malaya: A Scalable Innovation in Health Professions Education

Authors

Keywords:

Social Accountability, ISAT, equity-oriented medical education, Accreditation reform

Abstract

Malaysia continues to face disparities in healthcare access, particularly between rural and urban areas. Although medical students engage in community programs, these opportunities remain inconsistent and lack formal evaluation, leaving their real impact on students’ sensitivity to health equity unclear. To address this, Universiti Malaya will be launching the Centre of Excellence for Social Accountability in Health (SAHUM), a pioneering initiative that integrates fragmented community initiatives under one strategic institution. Guided by a detailed logic model and grounded in the World Health Organization’s social accountability framework, SAHUM utilizes the Institutional Self-Assessment Tool (ISAT) and local partnerships to drive meaningful transformation. In the short term, it aims to enhance empathy and awareness among students and staff; in the medium term, it seeks to build stronger clinical engagement and readiness to serve underserved communities; and in the long term, it aspires to reform educational and healthcare systems across ASEAN. By embedding social accountability into national accreditation standards, SAHUM also serves as a catalyst for sustainable policy change. This article offers an actionable blueprint for institutions seeking meaningful equity-oriented reform and cross-border collaboration in health professions education.

Author Biographies

Wan Yuen Choo, Universiti Malaya

Choo Wan Yuen, BSc, MMedScPH, PhD

Professor in the Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Malaya. Her research focuses on interpersonal violence, aging health and adolescent health.

Fadzilah Hanum Mohd Mydin, Universiti Malaya

Fadzilah Hanum Mohd Mydin, MBBS, MFamMed, PHD

An Associate Professor at the Department of Primary Care Medicine, Universiti Malaya. Her research interests are ageing, abuse of older people, mental health, and age-friendly communities. She advances lifestyle medicine, e-health, and health behaviour change strategies to prevent chronic diseases and promote healthy ageing, while actively engaging in community outreach, advocacy, and academic work.

Kamal Solhaimi Fadzil, Universiti Malaya

Kamal Solhaimi Fadzil, BSc, MA, PHD

Head of Department with 27 years at the Department of Anthropology and Sociology, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, Universiti Malaya. He specialises in Development Anthropology, with research on Indigenous rights, refugee children, and access to education.

Mohd Nazri Abdul Rahman, Universiti Malaya

Dr. Mohd Nazri Abdul Rahman, BE, M.Ed, PhD

An Associate Professor at the Faculty of Education, Universiti Malaya, and Coordinator of UMCares (Community Engagement Section). His research focuses on early childhood education, indigenous pedagogy, homeschooling, humanizing education, and competency-based curriculum design. He has led various research grants and consultancy projects on bullying, inclusive education, and the future of schooling.

Rizawati Ramli, Universiti Malaya

Rizawati Ramli, MBBS, MFamMed

A Senior Lecturer and Family Medicine Specialist in the Department of Primary Care Medicine at the Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Malaya. She has experience working with underserved communities. Her interests include rural healthcare, with a focus on strengthening primary healthcare systems and ensuring equitable access to care for vulnerable populations.

Umul Hanim Yusoff, Universiti Malaya

Umul Hanim Yusoff, BSc (Hons) Biology, MscEd, PhD

Research Officer, Department of Primary Care Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Malaya. Her research experiences in regenerative medicine and healthcare education, with a current focus on aging health, obesity, and rare genetic diseases. She has worked on project of smoking cessation and community health, translating science into practical solutions that promote well-being and social responsibility

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Published

2025-09-09

How to Cite

Othman, S., Choo, W. Y., Mohd Mydin, F. H., Fadzil, K. S., Abdul Rahman, M. N., Ramli, R., & Yusoff, U. H. (2025). Establishing a Centre of Excellence for Social Accountability in Health at Universiti Malaya: A Scalable Innovation in Health Professions Education. Social Innovations Journal, 32. Retrieved from https://socialinnovationsjournal.com/index.php/sij/article/view/10721

Issue

Vol. 32 (2025): Social Accountability for Medical and Allied Health Faculties in Action: Institutional Alignment, Accreditation Standards, and Access Models

Section

Institutional Social Accountability Journey

Categories

License

Copyright (c) 2025 Sajaratulnisah Othman, Wan Yuen Choo, Fadzilah Hanum Mohd Mydin, Kamal Solhaimi Fadzil, Mohd Nazri Abdul Rahman, Rizawati Ramli, Umul Hanim Yusoff (Author)

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