Malaysia Veterinary Forum (Archive)

Dr. TanDY

Faculty of Veterinary Medicine
- the one and only veterinary faculty in Malaysia...

Quote: Website: http://www.vet.upm.edu.my/

The Faculty of Veterinary Medicine is one of the foundation faculties of Universiti Pertanian Malaysia and currently known as Universiti Putra Malaysia. It is sited within the Multimedia Super Corridor (MSC), a stone's throw away from the Malaysian administrative capital of Putra Jaya.

The Faculty aspires to be amongst the top veterinary schools in the Asia Pacific region. It has already made an impact by being the first veterinary school in the world to obtain the prestigious ISO 9001 certification in July 2000. All its activities are now governed by ISO 9001 procedures, covering undergraduate and graduate studies, research, continuing education, administration and professional services that include the veterinary hospital. The procedures are carefully designed to enable a progressive advancement of teaching, research and administration of the Faculty, and are reviewed annually.

Contact info:

Faculty of Veterinary Medicine
Universiti Putra Malaysia
43400 UPM Serdang
Selangor D.E., Malaysia

UPM Veterinary Hospital (UVH) has two numbers and they are:
03-89468317 and
03-86563528

lovelypup · Joined: 22 Dec 2005 Posts: 3

A friend of mine told me the UPM hospital is quite expensive. Is it true? Isn't it government animal clinic should be cheaper than the private one???

Dr csh · Joined: 21 Jan 2006 Posts: 427

I doubt that UPM is more expensive than private clinics. Perhaps you will be able to find some clinics that charge less than UPM but overall I do not believe that it is generally more expensive in UPM. It also depends on the procedure itself. If you have a dog with a broken bone for example, they have the expertise to perform higher end surgery which most private practices do not offer and of course those procedures will cost more too. Try not to think too black and white in terms of expensive and cheap. Location, patient care, equipment used, experience and ability of the vet, facilities, staff, all play a part and is very different from one practice to another. I urge you to consider all factors when choosing a vet

Dr Chong · Joined: 12 Dec 2005 Posts: 666 Location: KL

I don't think UVH is expensive, even though they are not cheap. In fact, I love to use their facilities, including the various diagnostic services.

Dr Nat · Joined: 07 Dec 2005 Posts: 1834 Location: Klang Valley

Although their total charges can sometimes be considered as expensive, but that is because they probably have performed many procedures for your pet. If you have done all those procedures in a private vet, it'll probably cost 2-3 times more.

varanus · Joined: 12 Feb 2006 Posts: 472

Do not think that UVH-UPM is government clinic. Do you thank University Hospital in UM is government? Do you think it is cheap?

The faculty never market UVH as "cheap" clinic. It is a labelled as a referral center with a lot of experties, facilities and equipments which are not available in any of the private clinics. Cheap or not, it depends on case by case basis.

For example a dog got hit by car, unable to walk, treated by private vet with just some medicine. Of course it will not be expesive. If the dog is treated in UVH, with multiple x-ray and myelogram, spinal surgery performed by consultant surgeons, physiotheraphy for 2 weeks, of course it is going to be expensive. It varies from case to case. Unless you can take 2 similar case with similar treatment to compare, still UVH is not labelled as "Cheap", that's not what they want.

Dr Bigguy · Joined: 19 Aug 2006 Posts: 8 Location: Kuching Sarawak

Pet owners and vets in West Malaysia are very fortunate to have 'just-a-car-drive-away' UVH that offers veterinary consultant or specialists, diagnostic labs, hospital facilities among other services to the public. Here in Sarawak, how we wish that this facility is available to our client's pets that some times demand specialised surgeries such as cataract surgery or spinal surgery. Even if the clients are determined enough to send their pets to KL, they have to go through the hassles of getting export permit, flight arrangement and quarantine of their animals upon reaching KL. Return trip will be even more cumbersome as the animal may need to be quarantined again upon entry into Sarawak for 6 month according to the Animal Ordinance. However, i heard that Sarawak Veterinary Authority, on case by case basis, may allow waiver of 6-mth quarantine if the animal is treated in the vinicity of UPM (not other private hosp) and then straight back home after that. So as you can see cost of treatment is not only main concern but also distance and compliance of inter-state veterinary regulations.

Kamariah Manap · Joined: 03 Feb 2007 Posts: 3 Location: Kuala Lumpur

I travelled almost 30 km to UPM religously every quarter for my little boy's regular check-up (until they stopped operating on Saturday, and my tight working shedule make it almost impossible to make such trip during work-days)

Not sure if UPM is expensive. For me the charges are extremely reasonable considering the facilities and expertise that they have. If they tripled the charges or even add another zero behind what they are charging now, I will still go back to them.

The only complaint that I have is; they are now on 5 days work week --- I have to take leave in order to go there. Why can't they open atleast one Saturday per month? I don't mind to pay the additional zero(s) for the consultancy charges if that is required...

varanus · Joined: 12 Feb 2006 Posts: 472

UVH is following government working hours. If extended period, a lot of thing need to be taking into consideration. UVH does not working with vet only. They have a lot of supporting staff with them. Imagine you need a vet for the day, the lab processing blood need to be on stand by, parasite lab need people in to work, ward need in house dr to do treatment, surgery room and prep room need to be sterilized... Not to forget all the supporting staff from veterinary assistant, nurse, technician... All need to be double paid. You think add another 0 in the consultation fees can do? Just joking. What is that one extra off day if compare to you boy? Even if it is unpaid leave. Right?

varanus · Joined: 12 Feb 2006 Posts: 472

Dr bigguy,

In east Malaysia, I undestand transport can really a major be a major problem. I guess if the owner is desperate, really can find the solution. I've heard my friend fly by plane to reach the patient. Bario I think. There is also owner book him for 2 days and gave him return ticket, business class.

In human medicine, I think "flying dr" is quite common. Helicopter will fly the dr and nurse to the rural area to service the community. I guess for vet service, it is a bit difficult. I don't think DVS wants to invest in a helicopter. But may be 4WD, scramble...