20th Anniversary of Miri Palliative Care: Fundraising for Hospice Centre and Promoting Cancer Awareness

(Miri, 2nd) The Palliative Care Association of Miri will jointly hold a 'Cancer Awareness Campaign' with Miri Hospital on November 29, 2025, at Niah Stone Hill. Free cancer screenings will be provided on site, including screenings for head and neck cancer, breast cancer, and cervical cancer, along with health talks and information booths to raise public awareness about cancer prevention and treatment.
Founded in 2005, the Palliative Care Association of Miri (PCAM) celebrates its 20th anniversary this year. Last night, a '20th Anniversary Charity Banquet' was held in the banquet hall of Imperial Palace Hotel to honor the selfless care and professional services provided to terminal patients and their families over the past two decades.
Palliative care is designed to provide comfort and dignified care for patients who can no longer receive curative treatment. The Palliative Care Association of Miri is driven by a team of both medical and non-medical volunteers, offering home visits, emotional support, pain management, and loans of medical equipment, so that patients can find solace and dignity in life’s final journey.

Palliative care services were first launched in 2005 by then Miri Hospital Director Dr. Uma Devi and Dr. Mieke, who was from the Netherlands and had experience in geriatric and end-of-life care. Realizing the urgent need for professional support for terminal patients in the community, they jointly established the palliative care program.
Subsequently, Dr. Mieke worked with Sister Elizabeth Sim from the Miri Hospital surgical department to visit Kota Kinabalu to study their palliative care model, then adapted it to local conditions in Miri upon their return.
In October 2005, Miri’s palliative care services officially began to operate under the framework of the Malaysian National Cancer Society Miri Branch, with strong support from Miri Hospital and volunteers. As demand increased, the Palliative Care Association of Miri (PCAM) was officially registered as an independent organization in January 2008.

Founding president Dr. Loh Yunn Hua led the association from its establishment until 2022, successfully expanding the volunteer team, broadening the service scope, and laying a strong foundation, making the organization a model of care centered on compassion, cooperation, and community.
From 2022 onwards, Dr. Doris Jong has taken over as president, leading the association into a new phase of professionalization and institutionalization. Under her leadership, the team successfully applied for and obtained a medical license from the Malaysian Ministry of Health, becoming a legally regulated medical care organization with regular reporting to the Ministry of Health to ensure transparency and standards.
Moreover, the association’s services have been extended to the Limbang and Lawas regions, allowing more patients from remote communities to receive high-quality palliative care. The association also implemented a Self-Referral System, enabling patients and families to proactively seek assistance and ensuring prompt support and treatment.
Moving Into a New Chapter: Building a Palliative Care Hospice Centre
Since 2005, PCAM has operated out of various leased premises, including Jalan Cahaya, Siang Siang Garden, Taman Lopeng Jaya, and Jalan Tukang, Krokop 1.
In 2016, the association realized its long-term vision and acquired a permanent premises at Lot 406, Jalan Piasau Edar, Taman Piasau, which serves as the hospice care center and office—symbolizing the association’s commitment to being rooted in and caring for the community.
Currently, the association is embarking on a new phase, launching a project to build a Palliative Care Hospice Centre. This center will help ease the burden on public hospitals and provide more comprehensive end-of-life care for patients. The architectural design has been approved, the project is now in the land-filling stage, with filling expected to be completed in the first quarter of next year, and construction of the main building planned to start in 2027.
The association is committed to maintaining transparency and cooperation, closely monitoring construction progress, and steadily advancing the project.

Since the inception of palliative care services, a group of dedicated volunteers has accompanied the association’s growth—some have been there since the beginning, others joined along the way—building a cross-generational network of love. Many volunteers went on to become council members and continue to contribute in leadership roles.
The association’s nursing team is the silent force behind the scenes: with professional skills and deep empathy, they accompany patients and families through life's most vulnerable moments. Although often unseen, their efforts profoundly impact countless families, alleviating pain, protecting dignity, and bringing warmth to life.
To mark the 20th anniversary, PCAM held a charity banquet with two primary goals. The first was to recognize the dedication of founding members, nurses, volunteers, and donors over the last 20 years; the second was to promote public awareness and understanding of palliative care, while fundraising for operations and development to ensure continued service expansion.
The association calls on the public to continue supporting through volunteering, donations, or other means, so that “loving and dignified care” can benefit more people in need.