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The first batch of medical students was admitted to the Faculty in 1964. A year earlier, these students,
40 of them, were placed in the Faculty of Science as pre-medical students. Construction of the faculty
building began in July 1963, was completed in 10 months, so that the pioneer students were able to
begin their course in May 1964. The building programme continued and the second phase was ready
in time for Year II teaching the following May. Throughout this period, planning, building, ordering
and receiving of equipment, recruitment of staff, organization of the Faculty, and discussions on the
curriculum continued unremittingly. Phase I of the Universiti Malaya Medical Centre consisting of the
main block together with podium or “technical box” (operating theatres, radio-diagnostic, accident
and emergency, polyclinic, pharmacy, central sterile supply, cafeteria, administration and medical
records) was completed in December 1966, and the first wards were opened as on March 1967. Phase
II of the Hospital consisting of Paediatric, Maternity and Rehabilitation Units was completed in
December 1967, and became functional in March 1968. The total construction period for the Medical
Centre consisting of the faculty departments, hospital (740 beds), Hostel for Clinical Students, Nurses
Quarters with Nursing School and Central Animal House was three and a half years. Over the past
three decades, the medical centre has expanded tremendously, and today it has 900 beds (the number
will be increased to 1200 beds after renovation).

Philosophy of the Faculty of Medicine

The philosophy of the Faculty is to mould students to be competent, highly-skilled and knowledgeable
health professionals, who can work with others as a team, who are caring and concerned about their
patients and society, and who can emerge as leaders in their community.

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