| Brief History Of The Malaysian Society Of Rheumatology The first informal meeting of the Protem Committee of the Malaysian Society of Rheumatology (MSR) was held at the University Hospital on 2nd October 1987. A small group of Doctors from varied Medical disciplines comprised the first Protem Committee. Professor Florence Wang, who was the Head of the Dept of Medicine at University Hospital served as the first President, Professor Subramaniam, Professor of Orthopaedics at University Hospital as the Vice-President, Dr. Kiran Veerapen, one of the four Rheumatologists in the committee as a Secretary and Dr. Chin Gek Liew, as the Treasurer. The executive committee members were Tan Sri Dr Abu Bakar Suleiman (Director General of Health), Dr. Abdul Shukor, Dr. Ho Kok Kheong and Dr. K. Maheendran. The inaugural meeting of the Malaysian Society of Rheumatology was held on 9/l/89. At this meeting a scientific session was held and the Society and the Protem Committee was formally introduced to the founder members by Professor Florence Wang. The Malaysian Society of Rheumatology was finally registered with the Registrar of Societies on 7th August 1989, following which the Protem Committee was dissolved and the new official executive committee was elected. MSR was soon recognised and welcomed by the regional Rheumatic bodies namely, The Rheumatology Association of ASEAN (RAA) and The Aplar Pacific League of Associations for Rheumatology, (APLAR) and began to participate in the activities of these organisations. During the early years MSR received vital support, encouragement and guidance from the Ministry of Health and other regional and international Rheumatological Societies While organising National level CME activities on a regular basis, MSR has also hosted International congresses:
Since 1998 MSR and SSIAR (Singapore Society of Immunology, Allergy and Rheumatology) have merged their annual meetings into "The Workshops in Rheumatology" held annually and hosted by each Society on alternate years. The first "Workshops" was held in Langkawi in 1998, the second in Singapore in 1999 and the third is due to be held in Penang this year. This has resulted in greater cooperation between these two small societies, one of the more important being a training link for trainees from the MSR and Tan Tock Seng Hospital. Throughout the first decade of its growth much of the credit must go to the past President Dr Kiran Veerapen whose vision and dedication nurtured this society to be where it is today. In the last 5 years the number of rheumatologists in this country has trebled and there are at least three more currently being trained in first class institutions. The growth of the MSR and increased confidence and maturity in the membership has allowed the birth of a new entity in Arthritis Foundation of KL (AFKL). This patient oriented foundation complements and adds to the aspirations of the MSR. This year also marks a special milestone for rheumatology in Malaysia, the unit under Dr Azmillah Rosman at the ultra modern Selayang Hospital is the first officially recognized tertiary unit in the Ministry of Health. This complements the established units at the University Hospital and HKL. The MSR has also put together a training curriculum of 3 years for rheumatology in this country which will be submitted to the Ministry. Through this it is hoped we will be able to offer first class training using local rheumatologists and facilities. Past MSR Presidents |