18th September 2025 – Jerudong Park Medical Centre (JPMC) stands united with the global community this World Patient Safety Day, 17th September 2025, to advocate the theme “Safe care for every newborn and every child.” This occasion serves as a powerful platform for JPMC to reaffirm its unwavering commitment and showcase its significant advancements in protecting the nation’s most vulnerable patients.
The World Health Organization’s (WHO) data highlights the critical nature of this mission. In 2022, an estimated 2.3 million children died within their first 28 days of life. This links to approximately 6,500 newborn deaths every day, a reminder that access to quality healthcare is critical for mothers and newborns worldwide.
In response to this urgent global call, Yang Berhormat Dato Seri Setia Dr. Hj Mohd Isham bin Hj Jaafar, Executive Director of JPMC, emphasised that the company’s duty is a deep reflection of the trust parents place in them.
“The data is not just a statistic; it is an urgent call to action to which we are firmly committed,” stated YB Dato Dr. Hj Mohd Isham. “Our duty to ensure absolute safety is a direct reflection of the trust parents place in us. We are fulfilling this through targeted research, strategic investment, and the cultivation of a quality culture that meets the most rigorous international standards.”
This year’s theme highlights the necessity of a multidisciplinary approach. The strategic integration of JPMC with Pantai Jerudong Specialist Centre (PJSC) on 1st January 2025 has created a unified vision to elevate patient care through enhanced collaboration, a broader range of specialised services, and state-of-the-art technology.
A testament to this approach is JPMC’s groundbreaking research into radiotherapy for pregnant cancer patients. Recognising that medication and treatment-related harm constitute a proportion of preventable errors, a team of JPMC medical physicists conducted an
innovative phantom study. The research successfully developed a framework to drastically minimise radiation exposure to a foetus during a mother’s cancer treatment, demonstrating a direct and proactive response to ensuring safety for the mother and her foetus.
Beyond research, JPMC has made substantial physical investments to mitigate risks. In December 2024, the hospital unveiled its newly refurbished Obstetrics and Gynaecology (OBG) Ward. This strategic upgrade features state-of-the-art medical equipment, a dedicated water bath for natural pain management, and patient rooms specifically engineered with infection prevention and control as the top priority. Furthermore, recognising neonates, children, and pregnant women as vulnerable populations, JPMC advocates strongly for routine immunisations and enforces strict policies that prioritise their safety.
Supporting these efforts is a system-wide commitment to the best international practices. JPMC recently underwent a rigorous Joint Commission International (JCI) extension survey for its Specialist Medical Services, a process that serves as an independent validation of its quality and patient safety practices. This evaluation placed significant emphasis on the standards of care for vulnerable populations, including mothers, neonates, and children. This external review is critically important, as the WHO stresses that strengthening safety systems in this way can prevent up to 80% of all avoidable harm in healthcare.
Concluding his message, the Executive Director issued a call for collaboration, echoing the WHO’s objective to empower families. “Safety is a shared mission. We empower parents to be active partners, to ask questions and be engaged in every decision. Together, we can ensure that every child not only survives but thrives.”
On September 17th, as the world illuminates its icons in orange, Jerudong Park Medical Centre stands firm in its commitment. We proudly reaffirm our pledge to be the national leader in paediatric and newborn care safety, dedicated to securing a healthier and brighter future for the children of Brunei Darussalam.
For more information on JPMC’s paediatric and maternity services, visit www.jpmc.com.bn or call the dedicated care line at 2611433 ext 3000/3002
