Erica Lam spent five years as a chartered company secretary before making the leap into healthcare—and she’s never looked back. It was in 2006 that she was offered the chance to join the team at Pantai Hospital Kuala Lumpur (PHKL), and, as she shared, “I entered healthcare without much hesitation when the opportunity came by. Life is always unexpected, and at that point, I felt that I needed a change. It’s been a very rewarding journey.”
With a strong foundation in corporate governance and administrative functions, Lam advanced through the ranks in roles as Administration Manager and COO, before being appointed CEO in 2017. “Being the CEO of a healthcare company is very different from leading the company of a more traditional corporate sector because there is a lot of social responsibility that comes with it,” she says. “Unfortunately, falling sick is a part of life, so we provide services and care when someone needs us.” Lam leads the hospital with a focus on patient care as well as operational excellence, and constantly works on maintaining the hospital’s reputation as a premier healthcare provider in the region.
Now a prominent figure in Malaysia’s private healthcare sector, Lam additionally acts as Honorary Secretary of the Association of Private Hospitals of Malaysia and as Honorary Treasurer for 2025-2026. In the Malaysian Society for Quality in Health, she has been elected as President for 2025-2026. Lam also serves as Regional Chief Executive Officer (Central) of IHH Healthcare Malaysia, one of the country’s largest private healthcare providers that also manages PHKL.
This year, PHKL celebrates its 51st anniversary, having first opened its doors on 1 February 1974, the same day Kuala Lumpur was established as a Federal Territory. “The hospital has grown from strength to strength from its humble beginnings comprising 68 beds and 20 medical specialists,” she says. “As Malaysia’s first local private hospital, PHKL played a pioneering role in shaping the country’s private healthcare sector. There are other older hospitals, like Assunta and Tung Shin, but those were set up as missionary hospitals.
“Today, we are proud to be a 500-bed hospital with more than 200 consultant specialists,” Lam adds. “We are also no longer a general hospital but a highly sub-specialised tertiary care centre, including those for cancer, pathology, and microsurgery. The Pantai brand also encompasses a network of 11 hospitals across Malaysia, all stemming from the legacy established by PHKL.”
Under Lam’s tenure, PHKL was the first private hospital in Malaysia to administer Covid-19 vaccinations for healthcare workers throughout KL. On the global stage, PHKL has also been ranked number six on the prestigious Newsweek World’s Best Hospitals 2024 list and has been awarded the Global Health APAC Awards from 2019 to 2023. “We are also currently transforming PHKL to meet the future of healthcare,” the affable leader says. “You can’t build a hospital for the present anymore, but one that can stand the test of time.”
As the hospital is undergoing a remodelling in phases, what are some of the new building features?
We have a newly upgraded D7 ward that serves as a blueprint for the hospital’s future—focusing not only on patient comfort and innovation but also on the well-being of healthcare workers. We’ve integrated smart technology, including a nurse station dashboard that improves response time. Additionally, a personal infotainment tablet for patients allows them to view their procedure schedules and make service requests to ensure fast, seamless care.
How does PHKL stand out from other healthcare providers in the region?
We offer Gamma Knife surgery, a computerised treatment planning software that helps physicians locate and irradiate small targets within the head and brain with high precision. Besides that, we provide robotic-assisted surgery that assists in performing complex procedures with greater precision and comes with 3D high-definition visualisation of the surgical field.
Tell us more about PHKL’s sponsorship of the Kuala Lumpur Standard Chartered Marathon (KLSCM) and why supporting such causes is important for you.
We’re the sole medical provider for KLSCM, one of the biggest runs in Southeast Asia, and we’re focusing on building a community that is passionate about having active lifestyles. Instead of just treating patients, we also want to encourage them to get active and live healthier when they’ve recovered.
Why is advocating for the well-being of patients and professionals so important to you?
Providing emotional support to our staff is important to me, especially because healthcare workers went through very tough times during the Covid era. We have a mental health support programme for our staff, including an employees-only app for them to receive counselling privately, as well as workshops. We also provide a patient navigation programme that gives emotional support and navigation not only for the patients, but also for their family members.
Where have you travelled to recently?
Last year, my family and I went to Hiroshima and explored the small towns. I love going off the beaten track and finding the best restaurants.
What do you do to relax?
I like to read, watch Netflix, and, lately, follow the tariff trade wars.
How do you find calm?
Planning a trip is actually a healing process for me because I enjoy doing extensive research and planning our itinerary by the hour. This allows me to shut my mind off work.
What is your dream timepiece?
I’ve loved watches since I was young, and I’m not hung up on brands, but I’m into the mechanisms. During this year’s Watches and Wonders, Grand Seiko introduced the SLGB003, one of the most accurate mechanical or hybrid watches in the world, which caught my eye.
What watch are you wearing now?
The Piaget Altiplano, one of the world’s slimmest watches.
