The JCMT - International contribution and international friendship through training of doctors from the developing nations.
Former Prime Minister Mahathir of Malaysia was originally a doctor and later became a political leader and statesman who worked tirelessly to modernize his country over his 22 years in office.
Dr. Mahathir created the “Look East Policy,” which promoted modernization by studying Japan and other countries to the east of Malaysia enabling it to stand on the world platform. Malaysia achieved dramatic progress as a result of his unwavering philosophical commitment and strong leadership. After a long and distinguished career, Dr. Mahathir stepped down as Prime Minister in 2003.
The idea of inviting people involved in medicine in the ASEAN
countries to Japan for advanced expert medical training, which
became the basic purpose of the JCMT, was first proposed in 1980
by Japan’s Prime Minister Masayoshi Ohira. Later, the idea was
taken up by Prime Minister Zenko Suzuki, and the process towards
realizing this proposal began.
Prime Minister Mahathir expressed his strong support in achieving
the goals and contents of the program, and provided important
backing for its concrete realization.
Thus, Dr. Mahathir is the spiritual presence behind today's JCMT
Program.
In July 2010, we had an opportunity to visit Dr. Mahathir,
together as a group with JCMT graduates, at Putrajaya in Malaysia.
The meeting proceeded in friendly atmosphere, with discussions
centering on the activities of the JCMT.
From the time I took office as Prime Minister, I requested international cooperation from Japan for the modernization of the developing nations, not limited simply to economic cooperation, but also through human exchanges and development of human resources.
This request was also realized in the JCMT. This program has now continued under a consistent concept for more than a quarter of a century since its inception in 1983, and I am pleased to say that it has made an important contribution to improving the level of medical care in the nations of Southeast Asia, beginning with Malaysia.
Although this project was launched with funding from the government of Japan, I am impressed that it is now continuing, with no change in its philosophy and goals, with the sponsorship of several private corporations in Japan.
I would like to express my heartfelt respect to these corporate
sponsors for their generous support, and to Toranomon Hospital for
continuing to provide this opportunity for our doctors to receive
advanced medical training.
I strongly hope that this program will continue for many, many
years to come.
2010.7.28
Dr.Mahathir bin Mohamad