CORRIDORS OF CARE: Prof. Mike Chan’s Invited Visit to National Cancer Society Malaysia (NCSM)

KUALA LUMPUR, May 26, 2025 — Tucked into a quiet street in the city’s heart, the pale yellow building of the National Cancer Society of Malaysia (NCSM) doesn’t stand out at first glance. The building at Jalan Raja Muda Abdul Aziz, with its school-like façade and narrow staircases, blends unassumingly into its surroundings. But inside, it houses something extraordinary: a hub of healing, humanity, and quiet resilience.

On May 26, 2025, renowned regenerative medicine pioneer Prof. Dato’ Sri Dr. Mike Chan stepped through its doors upon their invitation. Embarking on his visit, Prof. Mike Chan brought his four decades of experience in cancer treatment from Germany to provide helpful insights to NCSM as a value-added proposition. It was not a media spectacle—no cameras flashing—but rather a sincere attempt to understand what this center offers and where future cooperation might begin.

A Journey Through the Heart of a Center

Prof. Mike Chan, founder of the European Wellness Biomedical Group, was guided by NCSM Director Dr. Murallitharan Munisamy and Sustainability Ambassador Partiban Ilangovan. As they moved from floor to floor, Prof. Chan was introduced to the many layers of care and service that define the center — from children’s playrooms and themed dormitories for young patients, to a counselling hotline and classes in laughter therapy for elderly cancer survivors.

“There’s real compassion here,” Prof. Chan observed, stopping to admire a wall collage documenting past outreach campaigns and events. “But there’s also a sense of urgency. You can feel how much more could be done if given the right support.”

The center’s lower floors house essential equipment in the fight against cancer: subsidized mammogram and x-ray machines that serve busloads of women who come for early screening — many from underserved communities. Despite the narrow corridors and humble infrastructure, every corner testifies to a deep, daily commitment to saving lives.

A History of Quiet Impact

Founded in 1966, NCSM has served as Malaysia’s first not-for-profit cancer organization, established even before the Ministry of Health had a formal cancer control program. It was founded by the late Dato’ Dr. S.K. Dharmalingam, Malaysia’s first oncologist, and launched by the then Prime Minister of Malaysia, the late YAB Tun Abdul Razak.

Over the decades, it has grown into a community beacon, offering early detection, education, support services, and public health initiatives—all while running on limited resources and tireless dedication.

The tour allowed Prof. Chan to appreciate this legacy firsthand. “This visit helped me see not just what the center has, but what it dreams of becoming,” he said.

Planting Seeds of Collaboration

Though discussions touched on possible collaboration — such as upgrading outdated screening equipment and extending outreach to rural areas like Sabah—no formal partnership has been finalized yet.

“This was just the beginning,” he said. “The center has great potential, but also great needs. Before anything else, we must listen, learn, and explore what’s truly possible.”

Dr. Murallitharan agreed. “We’re excited by the ideas shared. But transformation doesn’t happen overnight. It requires shared understanding and long-term vision.”

Ideas floated included enhancing access to new diagnostic technologies, education programs for healthcare professionals, and patient empowerment through informed treatment options — including, possibly, regenerative and stem cell therapies in the distant future.

Key Takeaways

• A Meaningful First Step: Prof. Mike Chan’s visit was an informal walk-through—no agreements were signed, but it opened the door to heartfelt conversations and the potential for future collaboration.
• Legacy of Service: NCSM, Malaysia’s oldest cancer-focused non-profit, has long served the community with early screening, support, and education.
• Opportunities Ahead: Potential collaborations discussed include improving screening tools and expanding outreach to Sabah.
• Education First: Both sides see training and public education as the most immediate and impactful starting point.
• Hope in Progress: Though the journey ahead may be long, all parties expressed readiness to explore what the future holds—step by step.

Education as the Starting Point

One theme that stood out during the visit was education.

“Education is the clearest and most immediate place to start,” Prof. Chan emphasized. “It’s the foundation of all progress—whether we’re talking about early detection, better care, or new technologies.”

Both parties expressed interest in working together to develop training workshops, public awareness campaigns, and knowledge-sharing platforms that could strengthen the cancer care ecosystem — not just in Kuala Lumpur, but across the country.

Prof. Chan summed it up with quiet optimism: “Sometimes the biggest breakthroughs begin in the most humble places—like a narrow corridor, or a quiet conversation.”

But he was quick to add that good intentions alone won’t sustain meaningful change. For any partnership to last and truly uplift more lives, it must be structured like a well-run enterprise. “This isn’t just about charity,” he explained. “It’s about creating a model that is self-sustaining, scalable, and able to support its growth. If we can build something that runs profitably, we can help more people, more consistently, and over a longer horizon.”

It’s a pragmatic vision grounded in compassion: a future where the impact of care is multiplied not just by donations or goodwill, but by systems that work.

The visit may not have produced a headline-making partnership, but it lit a small flame—hope that something meaningful could take root.

“We may not have a map yet,” said Partiban, “but we’ve taken the first step. And sometimes, that’s all it takes.”

Both parties have agreed to reconvene soon for further discussions to come out with a more detailed proposal outlining the scope, structure, and possible starting points of collaboration. While much remains to be defined, one thing is clear—this first visit has opened a door, and that’s where the road ahead begins.