A Hallmark of 20 Years of Committed Service to the Malaysian Society

On 30 March 2014, MAKNA will cross the 20th year mark since beginning operations in 1994. Today it is all grown up and is an established non-profit assisting cancer patient regardless of background, stature, creed and colour. From a small team of staff led by the then Deputy Health Minister, Dato’ Mohd Farid Ariffin, he set up MAKNA after his own son, the late Farul Rafiq was diagnosed with Leukaemia (Farul survived after a bone marrow transplant and passed away in August 2011). 

Struggling with his own conscience, Dato’ Farid felt it was time for him to do something for poor cancer patients who could ill afford cancer treatment.

30 March Launching of MAKNA

As MAKNA crosses this threshold, we are reminded of the countless challenges that have come before us that could have derailed our mission. But fortunately, due to foresight and perseverance that was driven by an altruistic goal, MAKNA has continued to survive till this day.

Many things have happened since but MAKNA’s story has remained as a non-profit that has received tremendous support by Malaysians everywhere, whether in the country or overseas, from donors and supporters from all ilk and backgrounds.

As we celebrate our 20th year in operations, we are just as fervent and committed to our cause in bringing the necessary help to cancer communities in all parts of the country. As far our mission is concerned, we will maintain our resoluteness to keep plugging away as long as the public needs us. 

Some of our work in the past 20 years

To our supporters, donors and well-wishers everywhere, and not forgetting our volunteers, there’s no describing how much you have meant to all us here at MAKNA. You have only shown that the true value of compassion, kindness and generosity can have the power to heal and this allows our patients to deal with their situations with dignity, hope and a burning spirit to beat cancer.

To those who have been dealt the cruel fate of succumbing to the disease, you will always have a special place in our heart as you continue to remind and inspire us in our journey towards achieving all our goals and objectives.

Stay tuned for some of the activities we will be organising in conjunction of MAKNA’s 20th Birthday!

Blast from the Past: Establishment of IKM (Institut Kanser MAKNA) - PPUKM (Pusat Perubatan Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia)

Pusat Perubatan Universiti Malaysia (PPUKM)

MAKNA's vision of setting up a centre to care for and treat cancer patients was materialised when Pusat Perubatan Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (PPUKM) signed a memorandum of understanding with MAKNA to establish Institut Kanser MAKNA-PPUKM or IKM-PPUKM. 

The working relationship was established on 19 April 1999 and since then, the centre has been in existence for 14 years, providing accessible, affordable and quality treatment to those seeking treatment at the centre. 

Wad Onkologi Tengku Ampuan Afzan

IKM-PPUKM consists of Wad Onkologi Tengku Ampuan Afzan, sub-basement radiotherapy and a stem cell transplant Unit (formerly bone marrow transplant unit) and today the latter continues to be one of the largest and very limited transplant units in the country.

The funding of the centre is supported by MAKNA where all patients’ treatment is subsidised, with patients paying nominal charges. Besides operating the ward, MAKNA also has full-time employees at the centre conducting researches on cancer. To-date, the centre has treated 96,476 patients.