KOTA KINABALU, SABAH — The Bornean Region Pain Medicine Workshop 2025 made history as the first of its kind in Sabah, successfully held on 31st of October 2025 at Galeri Azman Hashim, Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS).

The event was organized through the initiative of the Malaysian Association for the Study of Pain (MASP), in collaboration with the Pain Medicine Unit and Department of Anaesthesiology and Critical Care, Hospital Queen Elizabeth (HQE), the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS), and the ‘Persatuan Kakitangan Akademik Anestesia Sabah’ (PERAKAS).

This initiative marks the continuation of a series of workshops previously held in Peninsular Malaysia, now expanded to the Borneo Malaysia region to strengthen awareness and enhance the knowledge of healthcare professionals in the field of pain medicine. A total of 110 participants from across Borneo Malaysia—including consultants, specialists, medical officers, nurses, and allied health professionals—joined this national-level workshop that focused on a multidisciplinary and holistic approach to pain management.

The workshop was officiated by Dr. Mary Suma Cardosa, President-Elect of the International Association for the Study of Pain (IASP), who delivered an inspiring speech highlighting the importance of expanding pain education and awareness, especially in Borneo Malaysia.

The workshop aimed to:

• Increase awareness of the distinction between acute and chronic pain management.
• Enrich the knowledge of healthcare providers in Sabah and Sarawak on chronic pain management.
• Introduce non-pharmacological techniques and multidisciplinary team approaches in pain management.
• Create a platform for the exchange of ideas, experiences, expertise among healthcare professionals across Borneo Malaysia.

The success of both main events was made possible through the dedication and cooperation of committee members comprising staffs from Anaesthesiology & Critical Care Department, Hospital Queen Elizabeth (HQE) of Ministry of Health Malaysia (MOH) and the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences (FPSK), Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) of Ministry of Higher Education (MOHE).

The organizing committee was led by Dr. Nagarajan Nagalingam, Consultant Anaesthesiology and Pain Medicine Specialist, HQE in close collaboration with Associate Professor Dr. Rajesh Kumar Muniandy, Head of Subspecialty and Postgraduate Studies, FPSK UMS.

This collaboration exemplified the synergy between the healthcare and academic sectors in strengthening pain medicine services in Borneo Malaysia.

The workshop featured a lineup of prominent figures who have shaped the development of pain medicine in Malaysia:

1. Dr. Mary Suma Cardosa, President-Elect of the International Association for the Study of Pain (IASP) and pioneer of Ministry of Health’s pain management services in Malaysia.
2. Professor Dr. Zubaidah Jamil Osman, President of the Malaysian Association for the Study of Pain (MASP) and Professor of Clinical Psychology at Management and Science University (MSU).
3. Dato’ Dr. Usha Rajah, Head of the Pain Medicine service, Ministry of Health Malaysia, and Head of Penang State of Anaesthesiology & Critical Care and Pain Medicine services.
4. Dr. Nagarajan Nagalingam, Senior Consultant Anaesthesiology and Pain Medicine Specialist of Hospital Queen Elizabeth and state of Sabah.
5. Associate Professor (Dr.) Rajesh Kumar Muniandy, Senior Consultant Anaesthesiology and Pain Medicine Specialist, UMS, Sabah.
6. Senior Therapists from the Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Hospital Queen Elizabeth, including physiotherapists and occupational therapists.

Throughout the workshop, experts shared insights covering clinical, psychological, rehabilitative, and service-related aspects of pain medicine:

• “Pain-Free Hospital in Our Daily Practice” by Dato’ Dr. Usha Rajah, emphasizing the importance of implementing a hospital-wide pain-free culture.
• “Updates in Pain Management and Pain Management in Cancer Patients” by Dr. Nagarajan Nagalingam, discussing current comprehensive approaches in managing chronic and cancer-related pain.
• “Role of Physiotherapist and Occupational Therapist in Completing a Proper Long-Lasting Plan for Chronic Pain Patients”, highlighting the crucial roles of physiotherapy and occupational therapy in achieving sustainable pain management.
• “Psychological Approaches in Pain Management” by Professor Dr. Zubaidah Jamil Osman, underscoring the role of psychological interventions in holistic pain care.
• “The Challenges in Pain Management and How to Overcome Them” by Dr. Mary Suma Cardosa, addressing current challenges and strategies to strengthen pain services in Borneo Malaysia.

A “Multiple Stations” session was also held, involving physiotherapy, occupational therapy, pharmacy, and needle therapy demonstrations, allowing participants to experience firsthand the multidisciplinary nature of pain management.

The workshop concluded with a panel discussion titled “Interdisciplinary Approach in Pain Management”, moderated by Dr. Mary Suma Cardosa (President, IASP) with panelists Dato’ Dr. Usha Rajah, Professor Dr. Zubaidah Jamil Osman, Dr. Nagarajan Nagalingam, and Dr. Firdaus (Director, Hospital Mesra Bukit Padang and Head of Psychiatric services in Sabah). The session emphasized the importance of interprofessional collaboration to ensure pain care is comprehensive, integrated, and effective.

As a continuation of the workshop, The Bornean Region Pain Medicine Family Day 2025 was held the following day on 1st of November 2025 at Teluk Likas Beach 1, themed “Chronic Pain Can Be Controlled! – Sesungguhnya Sakit Kronik Itu Boleh Kita Kawal!”

The event was officiated by Dr. Marcus Netto, Deputy Director of Hospital Queen Elizabeth, who highlighted the importance of community and family involvement in supporting individuals living with chronic pain.

The Family Day brought together patients, families, and healthcare providers to promote understanding that chronic pain can be managed by patients themselves through a comprehensive approach and consistent support from their loved one as well as the healthcare members.

A total of 45 adult participants and 18 children took part in fun-filled activities such as group aerobics, patient sharing sessions, family competitions, and lucky draws. The event successfully fostered community spirit, emotional support, and public awareness that chronic pain is not a barrier to living a meaningful functional life.

Overall, The Bornean Region Pain Medicine Workshop 2025 and The Bornean Region Pain Medicine Family Day 2025 successfully achieved its objectives of enhancing awareness, knowledge, and multidisciplinary collaboration in pain medicine. The program reflects Malaysian healthcare teams commitment to implementing holistic, evidence-based, and compassionate pain management practices, for the well-being of patients and the advancement of the nation’s healthcare system.

At the heart of this success, the Pain Medicine Unit of Anaesthesiology & Critical Care, Hospital Queen Elizabeth and UMS continue to grow as a dynamic and high-impact medical discipline, dedicated to providing quality care for both complex acute and chronic pain cases among the people of Sabah and Borneo Malaysia.