His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam and Her Majesty Raja Isteri Pengiran Anak Hajah Saleha consented to attend an award ceremony at the Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP), in Euston Square, London, where His Majesty was conferred with the “Companion of the College” award.

Accompanying His Majesty and Her Majesty were His Royal Highness Prince ‘Abdul Malik, Her Royal Highness Princess ‘Azemah Ni’matul Bolkiah and Her Royal Highness Princess Fadzilah Lubabul Bolkiah.

Their Majesties and members of the royal family were greeted on arrival at the Royal College of General Practitioners, by Professor Clare Gerada, Chair of the RCGP Council; Mr Jeremy Reed, Executive Director of Development, Managing Director-RCGP Enterprises; and Dr Iona Heath, former President of RCGP.

The award ceremony began with the arrival of His Majesty accompanied by a RCGP procession. The ceremony began with a welcoming speech by Professor Claire Gerada, Chair of the RCGP Council. It was followed with the RCGP Former President, Dr Iona Heath, reading the citation of the award.

Professor Claire Gerada then handed over the scroll of the Companion of the College to His Majesty.

The Companion of the College award is the first such award given by the college.

Soon after the awarding of the scroll, His Majesty consented to deliver a titah, where His Majesty expressed his gratitude for being conferred with the honorary award.

For 60 years, the college has made efforts to innovate and provide support to improve the general health practice in the United Kingdom. Today, that practice has given wide choices for patients with the utilisation of new and more competitive and cost-saving technological advancements, said His Majesty.

The monarch pointed out that relations between Brunei Darussalam and RCGP started 13 years ago.

His Majesty was thankful that through collaboration and support from the college in developing primary healthcare and family medicare in Brunei Darussalam, it has enhanced the aspect of quality in healthcare.

More importantly, graduates from this training programme have made significant contributions to the improvement of primary healthcare in Brunei Darussalam, said the ruler.

Other than providing a positive impact on primary healthcare in Brunei Darussalam, collaborative relations with the college have not only benefitted the doctors in Brunei Darussalam, but also doctors in neighbouring countries.

His Majesty congratulated and lauded the commitment and vision of the college shown through its international faculty.

His Majesty said the primary healthcare programme in Universiti Brunei Darussalam (UBD) can be improved and further developed through continued support from RCGP. His Majesty hoped that through continuous professional development, it can provide training attachment in the ‘sub-specialist’ level for primary care doctors.

In His Majesty’s opinion, quality assurance and clinical efficiency in Brunei Darussalam can be developed through joint research in the fields of preventive and primary healthcare.

RCGP’s success in Brunei Darussalam is mostly attributed to its ability to provide suitable programmes for the local environment.

His Majesty believes that this programme can strongly benefit the region. In this relation, His Majesty suggested that RCGP open a ‘Regional Office’ in UBD. This effort can further help improve primary healthcare in Brunei Darussalam, besides providing an opportunity to strengthen the existing close cooperation between RCGP and UBD.

At the completion of the awarding ceremony, His Majesty consented to officiate the naming of the ‘Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Auditorium’.

Later, Their Majesties and other members of the royal family attended a reception and took part in a group photo session in conjunction with the conferment of the award. His Majesty also mingled with government officers currently undergoing their training course at the college.

Present during the ceremony were Pehin Orang Kaya Seri Kerna Dato Seri Setia Dr Haji Abu Bakar bin Haji Apong, Minister of Education, and Pehin Orang Kaya Laila Setia Dato Seri Setia Haji Abdul Rahman bin Haji Ibrahim, Minister of Finance II at the Prime Minister’s Office as well as other senior government officers. - Borneo Bulletin (4 January 2013)