From Left, Dr Ng Char Hong, Consultant Breast and Breast Reconstructive Surgeon, Hospital Picaso; Dr Farhana Fadzil, President of College of Radiology Malaysia; Encik Ahmad Lutfi, CEO of Hospital Picaso; Mr Lu Liang, Vice President of Southeast Asia and Pakistan BD, Ms Javis Tung, APAC Business Development Director of Oncology, BD, gather for the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signing ceremony, marking a collaborative effort to advance breast intervention and strengthen breast cancer care in Malaysia.

Hospital Picaso, BD (Becton, Dickinson and Company) and the College of Radiology Malaysia have entered into a strategic partnership to strengthen breast intervention capabilities and multidisciplinary breast cancer care in Malaysia. The three-year collaboration aims to train at least 100 breast surgeons, breast radiologists and radiographers through structured clinical education and practical skills development.

A key initiative under the partnership is the establishment of the BD Breast Academy Malaysia Chapter in collaboration with Hospital Picaso, which will serve as a dedicated platform for masterclasses, hands-on workshops, clinical mentorship, case discussions, faculty development, observerships and scientific exchange. Hospital Picaso will also be developed as a Breast Intervention Centre of Excellence and training hub to support the advancement of breast intervention expertise in Malaysia.

The collaboration comes at an important time for breast cancer care in the country. According to the Malaysia National Cancer Registry Report 2017–2021, 50.5 per cent of staged female breast cancer cases were diagnosed at Stage III or IV, while breast cancer remains the most common cancer among Malaysian women. The Ministry of Health Malaysia’s Roadmap Towards Downstaging of Breast Cancer in Malaysia 2025–2035 has set national targets to ensure that at least 60 per cent of invasive breast cancers are diagnosed at an early stage, diagnostic evaluation is completed within 60 days and at least 80 per cent of patients complete multimodality treatment.

Against this backdrop, the partnership aims to establish a more sustainable clinical education ecosystem by connecting healthcare professionals involved throughout the patient journey, from detection and diagnosis to treatment planning and intervention. Training under the Malaysia Chapter will cover breast imaging, Core Needle Biopsy (CNB), Vacuum-Assisted Breast Biopsy (VABB), image-guided biopsy, lesion localisation and minimally invasive breast intervention, alongside clinical decision-making and emerging best practices in breast cancer management.

Healthcare professionals will also gain access to practical learning through simulation-based training, procedural planning, live or recorded procedure observation, multidisciplinary case discussions and exposure to breast clinics and patient pathways. Planned observerships at Hospital Picaso will include ultrasound-guided CNB and VABB procedures, as well as lesion localisation techniques.

Ahmad Lutfi, Chief Executive Officer of Hospital Picaso, said the value of the collaboration extends beyond individual workshops or procedures, as breast cancer care involves a complex series of interconnected clinical decisions throughout a patient’s journey. He noted that delivering clinical education within a multidisciplinary environment can help healthcare professionals understand how decisions at one stage influence subsequent steps, while building capabilities that can strengthen breast care beyond individual institutions.

Beyond procedural training, the partnership will bring together breast radiologists, breast surgeons, oncologists, pathologists and other healthcare professionals through multidisciplinary tumour board discussions, joint case reviews and cross-specialty educational activities. This approach is intended to strengthen alignment across diagnosis, treatment planning and patient management, particularly referral pathways between breast radiologists and breast surgeons to support more timely clinical decision-making and coordinated access to appropriate treatment.

From Left Dr Ng Char Hong, Dr Farhana Fadzli, Mr Lu Liang and Ms Javis Tung take part in a fireside chat titled “Beyond Treatment: Building a More Connected Breast Cancer Care”, discussing the importance of a collaborative and integrated approach to breast cancer care.

Dr Farhana Fadzli, President of the College of Radiology Malaysia, said breast intervention plays an important role between detecting an abnormality and determining the next steps in a patient’s care. She highlighted that the quality of imaging, tissue sampling and lesion localisation, supported by effective communication between specialties, can influence decisions further along the patient pathway. A structured platform for training, mentorship and multidisciplinary learning, she added, allows healthcare professionals to continuously strengthen their capabilities while learning from one another.

The programme will draw on faculty from both the public and private healthcare sectors, including experienced Malaysian breast radiologists and breast surgeons. In addition to enhancing participants’ clinical skills, the collaboration will support the development of future trainers and mentors. Hospital Picaso clinicians will have opportunities to contribute as faculty in workshops and masterclasses, provide clinical mentorship and support peer-to-peer learning in Malaysia and across the region.

The Malaysia Chapter builds on the Southeast Asia BD Breast Academy, which was established approximately two years ago and has trained more than 100 healthcare professionals through workshops, masterclasses, clinical exchange programmes and knowledge-sharing initiatives. Through the new Malaysia Chapter, BD will work with Hospital Picaso and the College of Radiology Malaysia to provide a more structured local platform for continuous professional education while connecting Malaysian healthcare professionals with broader regional expertise.

Mr Lu Liang, Vice President, Southeast Asia and Pakistan, BD, delivers his remarks during the MOU signing ceremony, emphasising the role of collaboration and professional development in advancing breast intervention and improving standards of care.

Lu Liang, Vice President & General Manager, Southeast Asia & Pakistan, BD, said healthcare transformation is driven not only by technology, but also by strong partnerships, empowered healthcare professionals and a shared commitment to improving outcomes for patients and communities. Through the BD Breast Academy Malaysia Chapter, BD aims to create a sustainable platform where healthcare professionals can develop practical skills, learn from experts and peers, and contribute to strengthening breast intervention capabilities across Malaysia.

The collaboration will also feature annual symposiums and educational forums, multidisciplinary roundtable discussions, clinical mentorship, faculty development and joint local and regional workshops. Beyond individual training sessions, the partners aim to establish an ongoing professional network that enables healthcare professionals to share knowledge, mentor peers and support more consistent breast intervention practices nationwide.

The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed at the Sheraton Petaling Jaya Hotel during Breast Cancer Awareness Month, following Hospital Picaso’s MDT Series: Early Breast Cancer 2026, which brought together specialists from surgery, oncology, radiology, pathology, genetics and other areas of breast cancer care.

Hospital Picaso, BD, and the College of Radiology Malaysia come together for a commemorative moment during the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signing ceremony, symbolising their shared commitment to advancing breast intervention and strengthening breast cancer care in Malaysia.

Over the next three years, Hospital Picaso, BD and the College of Radiology Malaysia will work together to expand access to structured breast intervention education, develop clinical faculty and strengthen multidisciplinary collaboration. Through these efforts, the partners aim to support more timely diagnosis, appropriate intervention, coordinated care and a more connected patient journey from detection through treatment.