• Rehabilitation unit in the University of Malaya Medical Center was inaugurated in 1965 under the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery,  during the headship of Professor Dr. JF Silva. Services provided were general physiotherapy, occupational therapy and orthopedic appliances service. 

• In 1967, a new service was established, the Prosthetic & Orthotic service which was managed by  Appliance Maker (the orthopaedic appliances service)

• During the tenure of Professor Balasubramaniam as the Head of Department, Dr. Zaliha Omar (now, Dato' Dr. Zaliha Omar), a young and energetic medical officer in the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, was chosen to lead and expand the services in Rehabilitation Unit.

• Dr. Zaliha Omar successfully completed her attachment training in Tan Tock Seng Hospital, Singapore Rehabilitation Centre. She subsequently went for further training in rehabilitation medicine at British Postgraduate Medicine Federation, University of London, United Kingdom.

• Upon her return, she pioneered the Rehabilitation Medicine Service in Malaysia providing expertise in the fields of rehabilitation medicine in UMMC (formerly known as University Hospital).

• 1991 saw the introduction and development of specialized clinical services in the Rehabilitation Unit. It was successfully implemented after the completion of the training of therapists and nurses in various medical rehabilitation sub-specialties.

• Over the span of 10 years, the following services were established:

Neuromedical Rehabilitation (1991), Spinal Rehabilitation (1992), Hand and upper limb Rehabilitation  (1992), Burns Rehabilitation (1992), Amputee rehabilitation (1996), Pediatric  Rehabilitation (1995), Sports rehabilitation (1998), Work Rehabilitation (1998), Alternative Approaches  to Rehabilitation Medicine (Acupuncture Service) (1999), Neurosurgical Rehabilitation (2002), Women’s  Health (2002), Musculoskeletal Rehabilitation (2003) and Cardiac Rehabilitation (2006).

Other multidisciplinary services: Wheelchair Workshop (1195),  was set up to fabricate, modify,  as well as make appropriate wheelchair adjustment tailored to patient's needs and provide education to wheelchair users.  Diabetic Footcare and Wound Management Clinic (1997), to cater for diabetic-related foot issues. 

• In 1995, Rehabilitation Unit moved as a unit under  the Department of Allied Health  Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University Malaya. It was then renamed as  the Rehabilitation Sciences Unit. 

• In the following years (1997), we pioneered the Masters of Rehabilitation  Medicine, a clinical postgraduate program under the Faculty of Medicine, University Malaya. 

• 2007: A year of significance, Department of  Rehabilitation Medicine was established as an independent department at both Faculty of Medicine and UMMC.

• 2010: The Speech Therapy Division was established.

• 2013: The Department of Rehabilitation Medicine  finally relocated to Menara Selatan where all its  clinical and academic divisions are together under one roof. In May 2013, a dedicated Rehabilitation ward (9SA) was opened in Menara Selatan. 

• Our Department has almost 300 staffs including 10 lecturers/ 8 consultants and clinical specialists, 37 postgraduate clinical Masters of Rehabilitation Medicine trainees, postgraduate research students, therapists, nurses, technicians, officers and clerks.

• To date, the Department has produced 59 rehabilitation physicians working at various hospital across Malaysia.