Weathering The Storm – How One Hospital Navigated the COVID-19 Pandemic

【Product Information】

As the delicate tendrils of an unfamiliar coronavirus began unfurling in the twilight of 2019, neither Malaysia nor the rest of the world could have foreseen the cataclysm about to cascade across the upcoming years.

These are more than mere anecdotes. These are the heart-stopping chronicles of the frontliners who stood unflinchingly on the precipice of an unseen abyss, combatting the initial onslaught as the pandemic dared to breach Malaysia’s borders. Carrying the weight of their sworn duty, medical staff were mobilised into a fortress of resilience and compassion. As the hospital corridors echoed with uncertainty, an unparalleled synergy sparked between management and clinicians, orchestrating adaptive strategies to confront a future blooming with human suffering.

The steely tenacity and sheer resilience exhibited by the Malaysian medical fraternity amid history’s deadliest pandemic should be eternally etched in our collective memory. By chronicling the agonising struggles and valorous efforts that unfurled within the hallowed corridors of Gleneagles Hospital Johor, our objective goes beyond mere documentation. We intend to preserve the essence of collective resilience that reverberated against the fearsome spectre of the virus.

Our aspiration is to serve as a lighthouse of lessons learned, guiding, and illuminating the path for future generations. We hope that the echoes of this intense battle continue to resonate, inspiring wisdom, courage, and fortitude in humanity’s future confrontations. Let us eternally remember this raw testament of human spirit in the face of overwhelming odds.

【Author Information】

Dr. Kamal Amzan

A medical graduate from the University College of Dublin with a Master in Public Health from the University of Liverpool, Dr Kamal Amzan has always been passionate about hospital management, particularly in the areas of governance, quality and standard of care.

Currently the CEO of Gleneagles Hospital Johor, Dr Kamal has held various senior leadership roles within IHH Healthcare, including as Head of Medical Affairs and Quality for IHH Healthcare Malaysia, the Chief Operating Officer in Gleneagles Hospital Kuala Lumpur and of Pantai Hospital Batu Pahat. Some of his notable contributions on the quality front was the successful of Malaysia Society for Quality in Health (MSQH) accreditation of all IHH Healthcare hospital across the country.

Dr Kamal believes that influencing people and empowering them are prerequisites to a sustainable change. Going by the philosophy, “Something well done is better than something well said”, he is in the industry playing the “infinite” game and advocates the creation of a culture that is value driven to advance, enhance and improve the standards of care.

【Table of Contents】

Acknowledgements

Introduction
1. The First Wave
2. Origins of the Virus
3. Bracing for a Health Crisis
4. Severe Cases & The Second Wave
Gallery
5. The Race to Vaccinate
6. Government, Media and Channels of Communication
7. On the Frontlines
8. Lesson Learnt and Moving Forward

Appendix
Sources