Melaka Manipal Medical College (MMMC) commenced with its academic programme with the first batch of students, in September 1997.

The Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for the institute was signed in New Delhi, India, between JVMC Corporation Sdn. Bhd. and Manipal Education & Medical Group (MEMG), in the presence of former prime ministers of Malaysia and India, Dr. Mahathir Mohamad and Mr. P.V. Narasimha Rao, respectively. Later, as per an earlier agreement signed in 1996, for the participation of the Melaka state government programme through Yayasan Melaka, the state government of Melaka expressed an interest in having the project located in Melaka.

MMMC’s twinning programme was mutually developed by the JVMC Corporation, in association with the Manipal University. According to an MOU dated 13th December, 1993 with Manipal University, JVMC takes the responsibility to provide the academic content and teaching, while Manipal University provides the academic programme and extends administrative support for the whole course, including the clinical programme which is conducted in Malaysia. The programme envisages a two and a half year preclinical training course in Manipal, followed by two and a half years of clinical training in Malaysia.

The teaching faculty is recruited locally from Melaka and from Manipal University, to ensure high standards. The clinical training is accomplished at the Melaka General Hospital and the Muar District Hospital. Both hospitals are specialist hospitals and have already been providing training facilities for doctors up to the postgraduate level. Community health training is provided at various health centres in Melaka. The twinning programme and the establishment of the Melaka Manipal Medical College have been approved by Malaysia’s Ministry of Education, and the MBBS degree is recognised by the Malaysian Medical Council and Government of Malaysia. Today, Manipal University has trained more than 2000 Malaysian doctors, which is the largest private sector contribution to professional medical manpower in Malaysia, over a span of nearly 40 years.

The Malaysian Accreditation team, Lembaga Accreditasi Negara (LAN) visited Melaka and Manipal campuses of Melaka Manipal Medical College in January 2003. In July 2003, the government of Malaysia and Malaysian Medical Council recognised the MBBS degree of Melaka Manipal Medical College (MMMC), which is conferred by Manipal University, Manipal, India. In February 2004, Melaka Manipal Medical College was included in the WHO list of recognised medical colleges and also in the International Medical Education Directory (IMED) of the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG). The MBBS degree of Melaka Manipal Medical College is also recognised by the Sri Lanka Medical Council.

Some of the Best Practices followed at MMMC (Manipal Campus) have been listed below:

• Structured Academic Calendar
• Clinical skills training
• Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE)
• Objective Structured Practical Examination (OSPE)
• Self-Directed Learning (SDL)
• Objectivity in exams
• Clinically oriented questions
• Mentorship Programme
• Student Profile Card
• Specification Table
• Anatomy Prosection
• Personal and Professional Development class
• Help Desks after the orientation programme
• Learning portfolio for clinical students
• Incentive for 100% attendance
• Attendance credit for parade participation
• Faculty council meeting
• Core time and flexi time for staff
• Flexi-Saturday/ Research day
• Results on internet
• Mentored Student Project