Our History & Timeline

The history of Assunta Hospital is closely linked to the establishment of Petaling Jaya, a satellite city developed in 1952 to ease the problem of overpopulation in Kuala Lumpur. With a founding population of 800 people who stayed mostly at the area known as Old Town today, it soon became clear that Petaling Jaya needed a reliable healthcare provider.

Understanding the need for medical services, four Franciscan Missionaries of Mary (FMM) nuns started a small clinic called Ave Maria at Section 1 to serve the healthcare needs of the underprivileged in 1954. Through public donations, the little clinic was soon expanded to include a maternity home and convent.

By 1957, the population of Petaling Jaya had grown so rapidly that the clinic cum-maternity home could no longer meet the needs of the people. Led by philanthropist, the late Tun Leong Yew Koh, a large-scale fundraising event was organised, which successfully raised enough funds to build the hospital on its current location in 1959.

More firsts were in store, with the Kidney Unit established in 1967 and the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) in 1971. Limited resources in terms of workforce and facilities were no match for the sheer dedication and deep compassion of the FMM sisters and the hospital.

In 1974, the Assunta Foundation was formed and the management of the now full-fledged hospital was handed over to a Board of Directors by the FMM sisters. The main function of the Board is to assist the hospital maintain a balance between providing affordable healthcare and sustaining the hospital’s operations amidst rising costs.

Unlike normal business models where shareholders get to enjoy a share of the company’ profits, the honorary members of the board, consisting of FMM sisters and prominent figures in society, contribute their time and effort on a voluntary basis to regulate the hospital operations.

Recognising the fact that human beings are not only physical, but also spiritual, emotional and relational beings, Pastoral Care services was established in 1988 to extend emotional and spiritual support to patients and their families.

A decade later, the Assunta Hospital Community Service (AHCS), now known as Assunta Integrated Social Services (ASSISS)  was established to reach out to the under-privileged and to continue to address the needs of the community.

Being a not-for-profit establishment, the hospital operates on a premise of social entrepreneurship, where up to 70% of its profits are reinvested back for further expansion of the hospital, investment in new equipment and technology, renovation and modernization of the facilities and also to cover the operational costs of the hospital.

The remaining 30% is channelled to the Social Welfare Fund, to provide subsidised medical care to patients from the lower social economic group and those who qualify for medical aid, based on criteria set by the Social Welfare committee.

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Assunta Timeline

1954
1954
Under the directives of the Catholic Hierarchy in Kuala Lumpur, four Sisters from the Franciscan Missionaries of Mary started a tiny clinic (named Ave Maria) in Section 1, Road 4 in Petaling Jaya where the medical needs of the underprivileged were attended to.
1954
1955
1955
Through the Sisters’ perseverance and with financial support from other generous individuals, enough funds were raised for the construction of a new clinic, maternity home and convent at Section 4, Petaling Jaya. “When reminiscing on those early days, we often recall with mirth, finding snakes under our beds when kneeling to pray; and often having to sleep with opened umbrellas to ward off the rain coming through our wire-meshed windows”. – Sr. Enda FMM
1955
1957
1957
The population of Petaling Jaya flourished and grew rapidly. The existing FMM clinic-cum-maternity home could not cape with the growing number of patients and was not adequately equipped. Fund raising for the construction of the hospital building was then initiated through the generous contribution and support of Philanthropist, founding member and 1st Secretary General of the MCA, the late Tun Leong Yew Koh.
1957
1960
1960
The maternity ward saw more than a thousand babies delivered.
1960
1961
1961
In January, the hospital extended its facilities, a new general ward to care for men, women and children with the bed capacity of 150. A month later, Assunta Hospital became the 1st private hospital to set up an operating theatre in Malaysia and a surgical ward was opened concurrently. In February, the Assunta School of Nursing was opened and saw the enrollment of 27 students. The Nursing School was started by Sister Madonna K. Purcell, FMM, whose prime objective was providing career prospects for young women in the field of Nursing.

In May 1961, former Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Dato’ Ong Yoke Lin (now Tun Omar Ong Yoke Ling), officially opened the hospital. As part of community service free clinics were held once a week in villages and squatter areas around Klang Valley such as Puchong and Sg Way. Services offered include ante-natal care, infant care, immunization and general medical treatment. Milk was also donated to the poverty-stricken families with children less than a year-old.
1961
1964
1964
An extension block was built to cater to private, paying patients by philanthropist the late Tun Leong Yew Koh.
1964
1965
1965
Health visits were extended to Old Klang Road, Kg Muniandy, Kg Medan and other squatter areas surrounding Petaling Jaya starting this year.
1965
1967
1967
Assunta Hospital once again made history by becoming the 1st private hospital to set up the Kidney Unit project despite the limitations in equipment and space. The Kidney Unit project was headed by Dr SS Gill. On 3rd August, the Tun Tan Cheng Lock School of Nursing was officially opened by the first Prime Minister, Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra Al-Haj. The Catholic Medical Society in the USA funded supplies that contributes greatly to the college’s conducive learning environment.
1967
1970
1970
A new service block was opened in 1970 that thousand bigger laboratory facilities, operation theatres, a central sterilizing department and physiotherapy department. More maternity beds were added to the labour ward and the casualty department, ante-natal clinic, as well as business and nursing offices, were also renovated.
1970
1971
1971
The hospital treated a total of 1,339,950 patients of which 733,200 were outpatients and 606,750 were inpatients. Though only armed with a meagre staff head count, this exemplified the dedication that was possessed by the hospital’s staff in serving with responsibility and compassion. In the same year, Assunta Hospital became the 1st private hospital to provide Intensive Care Unit (ICU) facilities and services.
1971
1974
1974
On 16th January, the FMM Sisters handed over the duties of managing Assunta Hospital to the Board of Directors of the newly-formed Assunta Foundation.
1974
1979
1979
Assunta Hospital celebrates its Silver Jubilee “Of doing all things for love, even the most ordinary actions”, as envisioned and advocated by the FMM Sisters.
1979
1988
1988
Sister Regina Rocke and Sister Mary Kristin Ng were sent overseas to train as student pastoral carers. They pioneered the pastoral care department of Assunta Hospital.
1988
1993
1993
The Right Honourable Mrs. V.Bottomley, Secretary of State for Health (U.K.) pays Assunta Hospital a visit.
1993
1994
1994
The Day Surgery Unit began operations in 1994 as an important part of Assunta Hospital’s long-term expansion plans.
1994
1995
1995
Assunta Hospital was honoured by a visit from the Hon. Jim Elder, Minister of Transport & Minister of Assisting the Premier on Economic & Trade Development, Government of Queensland
1995
1996
1996
Assunta Hospital was the 1st hospital in Malaysia to be awarded the ISO 9002 Certification in a special ceremony graced by the then Minister of Health, YB Datuk Chua Jui Meng. Assunta Hospital was acknowledged by the Malaysian Book of Records being the 1st hospital in Malaysia to receive this accreditation. Sr. Mary Anne Fletcher undertook supervisory training in pastoral care and started the Pastoral Care Education Department. School of Nursing was upgraded to College of Nursing.
1996
2004
2004
In 2004, Assunta celebrated its Golden Jubilee and the 100th birthday of Sister Francoise Shen, a FMM Sister who dedicated her life to serving others. Though no longer with us, the memory and legacy left behind by Sister Francoise Shen is still very much remembered today. Assunta Hospital was also awarded a full three-year accreditation in 2004 by the Malaysian Society for Quality in Health (MSQH) for its recognition of meeting the MSQH Standards of providing safe and quality health care and facilities.

The hospital was presented with the National Creativity & Innovation Award in March 2004 marketing yet another significant milestone in the hospital’s continuous provision of quality healthcare. 2005 The New Wing Project commenced this year as a step forward in further positioning the hospital as a premier not-for-profit private medical institution in Malaysia. The project was completed in 2006 and was launched by Sultan Sharaffudin Idris Shah.
2004
2007
2007
To commemorate the compassionate service of the FMM sisters, a new Mobile Charity Clinic was launched with the contribution of a new van from UMW Toyota Motor. The new charity clinic was launched at the Church of the Holy Redeemer, Taman Berkeley Klang and is still operational up to date. Prior to this, Assunta Hospital had already been providing free basic healthcare services to the needy since 1961.
2007
2008
2008
The Passionately Pink campaign was launched to create public awareness and education on the early detection and treatment of breast cancer. The campaign, an alliance between the hospital, Asia Assisntance Network, PJ Live Art and Jaya One also provided support to the Assunta Hospital Foundation’s Social Welfare Fund – a fund extending subsidized or free-of-charge treatments to patients in the low income group. Assunta Hospital was the proud recipient of the prestigious 2008-2009 Brand Laureate Award under the category of Best Brands in Healthcare.
2008
2009
2009
To further champion the cause of breast and cervical cancer awareness, Passionately YOU was launched and replaced Passionately Pink in 2009.
2009
2010
2010
Asian Hospital Management Awards (HMA) Assunta Hospital was bestowed the prestigious “Marketing, PR, or Promotional Project” award by Hospital Management Asia (HMA) at the 9th Annual Asian Hospital Management Awards Night held in Seoul on 20th August 2010.

Assunta Hospital emerged as victor for successfully organizing the “Passionately You: Cervical & Breast Cancer Awareness ‘09” programme. The project was short-listed out of a total of 281 projects submitted by 58 hospitals from 10 Asia Pacific countries.
2010
2011
2011
Assunta Memory Lane was officiated by Sister Assunta Leong, FMM, Board of Directors of Assunta Hospital on 1st January 2011.

Assunta Hospital was proclaimed the winner for successfully implementing an eco-friendly working environment in the Hospital Management Asia (HMA) award category of “Service Improvement for Internal Customers Project”.
2011
2012
2012
The Paediatric and Surgical Ward was renovated and equipped with the latest fixtures, to offer greater comfort and experience to patient.

you@Assunta, an IOS mobile app for booking of health screening packages was launched.
2012
2013
2013
Assunta Hospital was awarded Hand Hygiene Excellence Award during the Asia Pacific Society of Infection Control (APSIC) conference in Taiwan.

Assunta Hospital was bestowed the Excellence Award in Corporate Social Responsibility Project Category by Hospital Management Asia (HMA) at the 12th Annual Asian Awards Night held in Bangkok, Thailand.
2013
2014
2014
Assunta Hospital underwent the 4th MSQH Hospital Accreditation Standards and was awarded a full four-year accreditation status.

Assunta Hospital celebrates its 60th Anniversary.
2014
2017
2017
Assunta Hospital’s Eye Centre of Excellence was launched by Sister Susan Thomas, FFM, Board of Director of Assunta Hospital. on 14th February, 2017.
2017
2018
2018
Assunta Hospital has increased its allocation to help the underserved community in need of medical attention and treatment from the initial 30% to 50 % of the hospital surplus.
2018
2021
2021
Assunta Hospital is recognised and listed in the Top 10 Private Hospitals in Malaysia by iBanding Services Sdn Bhd (iBanding), an independent, knowledge-based insurance education provider. The ranking was done independently in social media with ratings and reviews provided by individuals who have experienced all hospitals services.
2021
2022
2022
Assunta Hospital has been awarded Malaysia Health And Wellness Brand Awards, under Nursing Services Category.
2022