IPPT-USM has received the accreditation as the 'BrachyAcademy INTERNATIONAL EDUCATIONAL AND RESEARCH CENTRE' since 2020.

Currently, IPPT-USM is the only institution in Malaysia that has received this accreditation.

IPPT-USM is one of the only 3 centres in the world accredited in at least 5 areas of cancer, namely gynaecology, oesophagus, liver, prostate and head & neck.

BERTAM, KEPALA BATAS, 2 April 2022 –Despite the challenges and limitations of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the Advanced Medical and Dental Institute, Universiti Sains Malaysia (IPPT-USM) will continue to provide treatment for other diseases especially cancer.

Being the only radiotherapy centre in the northern region operating under a government agency (there are 5 other centres in the private sector), IPPT is fully committed to provide surgery, radiotherapy and brachytherapy services to the community, especially to the people in the northern peninsular of Malaysia.

IPPT-USM has started oncology and radiotherapy services here in Bertam, Kepala Batas since 2015.

The brachytherapy service, which started in 2017, has grown from just initially treating gynaecological cancer, to being added with other anatomical sites like oesophagus, liver, prostate and head & neck.

To date, IPPT is the only active medical centre in ASEAN that offers brachytherapy for liver cancer and head & neck cancer.

IPPT-USM excellence in brachytherapy has gained the attention of a brachytherapy professional body known as BrachyAcademy, based in Netherlands.

This prestigious accreditation is given for 5 areas of cancer, namely gynaecology, oesophagus, liver, prostate and head & neck, thus proving the expertise of brachytherapy in IPPT is being recognised by the world.

Currently, IPPT is the only institution in Malaysia that has received this accreditation. (Reference: www.brachyacademy.com)

USM is very proud to note that there are only 3 other centres in the world accredited in at least 5 areas or more, and IPPT is one of them.

To date almost 1,000 patients from across the country and also from Indonesia and Australia have been referred to IPPT for consultation sessions and a total of 578 patients have undergone brachytherapy procedures here.

IPPT has also developed a new brachytherapy technique for tongue cancer known as HyBIRT (Hybrid Brachytherapy followed by Intensity Modulated Radiotherapy) and is a pioneer of this technique.

IPPT has also received invitations and applications from brachytherapy members from abroad to attend and receive training here (fellowship training in brachytherapy), since receiving the BrachyAcademy recognition.

The recognition by BrachyAcademy is the result of combined multi-disciplinary experts including clinicians, researchers and academics, paramedics, medical physicists, radiotherapists, scientists as well as tremendous support from the management of IPPT and USM.

Brachytherapy is expected to continue to grow and become an important option for cancer treatment in addition to existing methods such as surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy.

It will certainly provide a wider choice and options for cancer patients. Hopefully, this recognition will be a catalyst for IPPT and USM to strive further to provide the best outcome to cancer patients and the whole community.

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Source: IPPT-USM Press Release (28 March 2022)/Editing: Tan Ewe Hoe