Sunway Medical Centre launches nation’s first photon-counting CT scanner, offering safer diagnostics
IN a groundbreaking development for Malaysian healthcare, Sunway Medical Centre, Sunway City has unveiled the country’s inaugural photon-counting CT scanner, marking a transformative leap in diagnostic imaging capabilities.
The advanced technology, launched on December 12, 2025, in partnership with Siemens Healthineers, promises to revolutionize how medical professionals diagnose and treat patients across multiple specialties, from cardiac care to pediatrics.
Next-Generation Imaging Technology
Unlike conventional CT scanners, photon-counting technology operates by detecting individual photons, producing images with unprecedented clarity and detail. This advancement enables physicians to identify minute tissue variations and micro-lesions that might otherwise go undetected, while simultaneously reducing radiation exposure for patients.
The innovation proves particularly beneficial for vulnerable populations, including children, elderly patients, and individuals requiring repeated imaging procedures. The technology delivers faster scanning times combined with enhanced patient comfort and safety.
“At Sunway Healthcare Group, we are guided by one mission: to deliver the highest standard of care through innovation and excellence,” said Datuk Lau Beng Long, President of Sunway Healthcare Group. “By introducing Malaysia’s first photon-counting CT, we are empowering our clinicians with an advanced diagnostic tool that enhances precision, supports confident clinical decision-making, and improves patient comfort.”
Strategic Partnership Driving Medical Excellence
The implementation represents a collaboration between Sunway Medical Centre and Siemens Healthineers, bringing decades of photon-counting detector research to Malaysian shores.
Siow Ai Li, Managing Director of Siemens Healthineers Malaysia, emphasised the technology’s global impact: “Photon-counting CT is a breakthrough that transforms diagnostic imaging worldwide. We are proud to collaborate with Sunway Medical Centre to bring this technology to Malaysia. Together, we are unlocking new frontiers in precision diagnostics that will help clinicians make faster and more confident treatment decisions.”
Clinical Applications and Benefits
The scanner incorporates advanced spectral imaging capabilities and AI-enabled support systems, including myExam Companion and GO Technologies, ensuring consistent high-quality results across all examinations.
Dr. Adam Pany bin Abdullah, Senior Consultant Interventional Radiologist at Sunway Medical Centre, highlighted the clinical advantages: “Photon-counting CT fundamentally changes what we can see and how we care for patients. Its ultra-high resolution allows us to detect small lesions and subtle changes clearly. Faster scans at lower doses mean safer, more comfortable exams, even for children and the elderly.”
The technology’s ultra-high resolution capabilities extend across diverse medical fields, including cardiology, neurology, oncology, musculoskeletal conditions, and pulmonology, providing clinicians with enhanced diagnostic confidence and improved workflow efficiency.
Building on a Foundation of Recognition
As Malaysia’s largest private quaternary hospital with 848 licensed beds, Sunway Medical Centre has established itself as a healthcare leader both nationally and internationally. The facility has earned recognition from Newsweek as Malaysia’s top hospital and secured a position among the world’s top 350 in the World’s Best Smart Hospitals 2026 rankings.
The hospital maintains accreditation from prestigious international bodies including the Joint Commission International (JCI), Australian Council on Healthcare Standards (ACHS) International, and Malaysian Society for Quality in Health (MSQH). It has consistently ranked among the World’s Top 250 Hospitals in both 2024 and 2025 according to Newsweek and Statista.
Supported by over 3,800 healthcare and hospitality professionals, Sunway Medical Centre offers comprehensive medical services through specialized centers of excellence covering oncology, women’s and children’s health, neuroscience, cardiac and pulmonary care, orthopedics, robotic surgery, and digestive health.
The hospital continues its expansion trajectory, with plans to increase capacity to over 1,100 beds to meet Malaysia’s evolving healthcare demands.
Advancing Healthcare Standards
This latest technological acquisition reinforces Sunway Medical Centre’s commitment to providing world-class healthcare through continuous investment in cutting-edge diagnostic solutions. The photon-counting CT scanner represents another milestone in the hospital’s mission to deliver safer, more accurate, and more personalized medical care to Malaysians.
As the flagship facility of Sunway Healthcare Group, recently honored as Company of the Year (Healthcare) for Community Care and Sustainability at the 2024 Sustainability & CSR Malaysia Awards, the hospital continues to set benchmarks for excellence in Malaysian healthcare delivery.
