Health Director-General Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah is ready to hang up his white coat and spend more time with his family after a 35-year career that has seen him become Malaysia’s medical superhero.
As he approaches 60, the father of six will retire on April 21, following a journey that’s included leading the nation’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
In an interview with The Star, Dr Noor Hisham shared his thoughts on retirement, saying, “Retirement is the next chapter of life. It’s a life journey. I will cross one bridge at a time.” He cheekily added, “Let me experience retirement first and I will share with you my experience later.”
The selfless medical warrior who fought against Covid-19 for the country
As the driving force behind Malaysia’s response to the Covid-19 pandemic, Dr Noor Hisham has etched his name in history for guiding the nation through the global health crisis that has plagued the world since 2020.
“It’s a memorable part of my medical journey to handle the pandemic and lead the challenge until we are (now) almost back to normalcy,” he said.
Dr Noor Hisham has numerous accomplishments under his belt, such as delivering the prestigious Martin Allgower lecture in 2019 and working towards eliminating Hepatitis C by 2030.
His tireless efforts have even earned him a place on murals, commemorating his work.
As he prepares to bid farewell, Dr Noor Hisham has one final wish – the tabling of the Health White Paper in Parliament this June.
He emphasized the importance of this document, stating, “The tabling of the paper is critical and will mark the starting point of the country’s journey towards health reforms.”
The retiring health hero urges cooperation between the private sector, NGOs, and stakeholders in ensuring the success of healthcare reforms.
As he steps down, grateful Malaysians will remember Dr Noor Hisham’s legacy, and eagerly await the next generation of medical trailblazers.
