Noor Hisham Abdullah

Noor Hisham Abdullah
نورهشام بن عبدﷲ
Director-General of Health
In office
1 March 2013 – 21 April 2023
MonarchsAbdul Halim
(2013–2016)
Muhammad V
(2016–2019)
Abdullah
(2019–2023)
Prime MinisterNajib Razak
(2013–2018)
Mahathir Mohamad
(2018–2020)
Muhyiddin Yassin
(2020–2021)
Ismail Sabri Yaakob
(2021–2022)
Anwar Ibrahim
(2022–2023)
MinisterLiow Tiong Lai
(2013)
Subramaniam Sathasivam
(2013–2018)
Dzulkefly Ahmad
(2018–2020)
Adham Baba
(2020–2021)
Khairy Jamaluddin
(2021–2022)
Zaliha Mustafa
(2022–2023)
Preceded byHasan Abdul Rahman
Succeeded byMuhammad Radzi Abu Hassan
Deputy Director-General of Health (Medical)
In office
1 February 2008 – 1 March 2013
MonarchsMizan Zainal Abidin
(2008–2011)
Abdul Halim
(2011–2013)
Prime MinisterAbdullah Ahmad Badawi
(2008–2009)
Najib Razak
(2009–2013)
MinisterOng Ka Ting
(Acting) (2008)
Liow Tiong Lai
(2008–2013)
Director-GeneralHasan Abdul Rahman
Personal details
Born
Yew Ming Seong

(1963-04-21) 21 April 1963 (age 61)
Sepang, Selangor, Federation of Malaya (now Malaysia)
CitizenshipMalaysian
SpouseNik Suwaida Nik Mohammad Mohyideen
Children6
EducationMethodist Boys' School
Kolej Islam Klang
Sekolah Sultan Alam Shah
Alma materNational University of Malaysia (MD, Master of Surgery (MS))
ProfessionEndocrine surgeon
Known forOne of the most prominent leaders in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic in Malaysia

Noor Hisham bin Abdullah (born Yew Ming Seong; 21 April 1963) is a Malaysian retired civil servant as well as breast and endocrine surgeon. He was the Director-General of Health and President of Malaysia Medical Council[1] from March 2013 to his retirement in April 2023. Prior to the appointment, he served as the Deputy Director General of Health (Medical) from February 2008 to March 2013.[2]

Hisham Abdullah was elected as the first chair for the World Health Organization (WHO) Standing Committee on Health Emergency Prevention, Preparedness and Response (SCHEPPR).[3][4] He is a member of the Board of Directors of the Drug for Neglected Diseases Initiative (DNDi).[5] For his contribution in Global Surgery Initiative, he was appointed as a member of Technical Advisory Group on Universal Health Coverage in the WHO Western Pacific Region (UHC TAG)[6] as well as a member of transitional High-level Council for the Global Surgery Foundation.[7]

Currently, he is the Chairman of National Heart Institute (Institut Jantung Negara),[8] Chairman of UCSI Healthcare Group[9] and Chancellor of Cyberjaya University.[10]

Hisham Abdullah was a leading figure in Malaysia's response to the COVID-19 pandemic[11] as well as the key figure in the effort to eliminate Hepatitis C in Malaysia and advancing Global Surgery initiative in the WHO Western Pacific Region and beyond.

  1. ^ "President: Tan Sri Dato' Seri Dr. Noor Hisham bin Abdullah: MMC: Council Members". Malaysian Medical Council. 11 November 2013. Retrieved 21 April 2021.
  2. ^ "Ketua Pengarah Kesihatan" [Health Director-General]. Ministry of Health (Malaysia) (in Malay). Archived from the original on 6 April 2020. Retrieved 31 March 2020.
  3. ^ "Dr Noor Hisham heads new WHO committee on pandemic response". The Star. 24 December 2022. Retrieved 29 December 2022.
  4. ^ "WHO Director-General's opening remarks at the Standing Committee on Health Emergency Prevention, Preparedness and Response – 12 December 2022". www.who.int. Retrieved 6 August 2024.
  5. ^ "DNDi - Our Governance - Board of Directors: Noor Hisham Abdullah - Director General of Health, Ministry of Health, Malaysia". www.dndi.org. 11 November 2013. Archived from the original on 6 April 2020. Retrieved 16 January 2022.
  6. ^ "Technical Advisory Group on Universal Health Coverage in the Western Pacific Region". www.who.int. Retrieved 31 July 2024.
  7. ^ "Noor Hisham". The Global Surgery Foundation. Retrieved 5 August 2024.
  8. ^ Cite error: The named reference :1 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  9. ^ Cite error: The named reference :2 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  10. ^ Cite error: The named reference :3 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  11. ^ "How mismanagement has fuelled Malaysia's coronavirus surge". South China Morning Post. 26 January 2021. Retrieved 27 January 2021.