“If a patient has a large tumour causing airway compromise, I can’t send them on a plane. We need to manage that here.”
From the moment Harrison set foot in Malaysia, he knew he was in for something extraordinary. After landing in Kuala Lumpur, he boarded a train north to Perlis, one of the smallest, most remote states in the country.
On arrival, Harrison cycled to meet Tuanku Syed Faizuddin Putra Jamalullail, Crown Prince of Perlis. Together they toured the city while the Crown Prince explained some of the health problems in the area. Since 2011, he has been an advocate for improving healthcare among the poor.
The first hospital Harrison visited, the Tuanku Fauziah Hospital in Kangar, was a modest building near the centre of town. Packed with patients and clinicians, he was able to observe up close how local doctors expertly treated a variety of conditions.
The respiratory registrar, who works alongside 40 consultants in NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, was entering a world where the states of Perlis and Kedah share just two. Helping them in a variety of procedures, Harrison quickly realised this was a journey that wasn’t just about medicine – it was about resilience, ingenuity and a deep-seated commitment to patient care.
The rhythm was fast-paced and unpredictable. On a visit to the Umum Sarawak Hospital in Kuching, Harrison was told by Dr Tie Siew Teck that his team worked with what they had available.
With limited supplies and technology, every diagnosis relied on instinct and experience rather than a barrage of tests. “If a patient has a large tumour causing airway compromise, I can’t send them on a plane,” said Dr Siew Teck. “We need to manage that here.”
In Batang Rajang, Harrison was introduced to the indigenous Iban. The tribe traditionally live in longhouses, hoisted above the ground on stilts. At the home he visited, which had multiple families in around two dozen rooms, he took part in discussions about general heath checks.
Harrison visited the Sungai Tabo river outside of Kuching
A longhouse in the Batang Rajang area
Beyond the clinics and treatments, Harrison met with royalty and was able to explore much of what Malaysia had to offer. At an event with the Perlis royal family, he found himself unexpectedly invited to perform the ubiquitous Scottish classic, ‘500 Miles’, alongside College Vice President (Medical), Dr Eric Livingston.
Additionally, he was invited to dinner by the Queen, who lends her name to the scholarship, where he discussed what he’d learned in the country with the Raja (King) of Perlis.
In his downtime, Harrison explored the wild landscapes of Malaysia. Visiting the Bako and Santubong National Parks, he saw monkeys, boars, sea eagles and snakes.
Now back in Glasgow, Harrison believes there are fewer differences between healthcare in Scotland and Malaysia than may first appear. Difficulties in reaching and recruiting clinicians in remote communities as well as unpredictable weather exist in both nations.
He was also left impressed by how much autonomy department heads had – with them able to rapidly implement new policies and request new equipment.
He was similarly inspired by how flexible clinicians were. This happened through an eagerness to adapt to providing healthcare to a dispersed population, including finding new ways to promote healthy living.
“I’m grateful to the Colleges of both countries for supporting this venture,” he said. “I feel extremely fortunate to have been offered such an incredible experience.”
The Tuanku Fauziah Scholarship is funded by our College in partnership with The College of Physicians of Malaysia.