HOSPITALS & MEDICAL INSTITUTIONS | General Thread [Archive]

nazrey

June 18th, 2007, 09:48 AM

nazrey

June 22nd, 2007, 03:24 PM

Ampang Hospital, Selangor Darul Ehsan

http://www.azrb.com/images/stories/ampang1.jpg

http://www.azrb.com/images/stories/ampang2.jpg

http://www.azrb.com/images/stories/ampang3.jpg

ntly1

June 22nd, 2007, 11:00 PM

Duchess of Kent Hospital, Sandakan

http://img504.imageshack.us/img504/3949/sdkhosda6.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

nazrey

July 1st, 2007, 11:29 AM

Putrajaya Hospital
by AngeliCiou$

http://img33.picoodle.com/img/img33/8/7/1/f_558m_62d3abb.jpg

nazrey

July 19th, 2007, 05:24 AM

Putrajaya Hospital
by Dany'06

http://img38.picoodle.com/img/img38/9/7/18/f_006m_370fd87.jpg

nazrey

July 20th, 2007, 10:49 AM

Putrajaya Hospital
by Dany'06

http://img38.picoodle.com/img/img38/9/7/18/f_006m_370fd87.jpg

Putrajaya Hospital to provide acupuncture, ayurvedic treatments soon
Sunday August 5, 2007
By SIM LEOI LEOI
TheStar

PUTRAJAYA: Acupuncture, ayurvedic medicine, massage and herbal treatment will be some of the traditional and complementary medicine to be introduced at Putrajaya Hospital later this year.

Hospital director Dr Mohd Norzi Ghazali said patients checking in at the hospital would be able to opt for such treatments when the services are launched.

“Acupuncture experts from China and other countries will be employed on a contractual basis,” he said.

He was speaking to reporters recently after receiving RM400,000 from Tourism Minister Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor.

The money will be used to construct new offices for the specialists, expand the existing car park for both visitors and hospital staff, and constructing a covered walkway for pedestrians.

Dr Mohd Norzi said Putrajaya Hospital would be one of the first few medical facilities in the country to offer these treatments besides Kepala Batas Hospital and Pandan Hospital in Johor Baru.

The hospital also implemented the “full-paying patient” concept from Wednesday, making it and Selayang Hospital the first public hospitals to do so.

The service provides patients with the option of being treated by specialists of their choice in an executive or first-class facility and be charged accordingly.

“The full-paying patient concept will provide a boost to our hospital, particularly in the field of medical tourism. We have set aside a special ward in our hospital for these patients,” he said.

He added that over the past year, the number of patients seeking treatment from the hospital had increased by 6%.

“The number of surgeries performed have also risen by 50%,” he said,

Tengku Adnan, who is also Putrajaya MP, said in his speech that he would be asking for allocations for a new community clinic to be built in the federal administrative centre, as the current one was too crowded.

“Of some 900 patients seeking treatment from our community clinic, about 80% of them are not staying in Putrajaya but are from surrounding areas like Banting, Dengkil and Puchong,” he said.

nazrey

August 6th, 2007, 05:00 AM

http://www.selayanghospital.gov.my/HTML/Open%20Ceremony/selayang.GIF

Another burst pipe at Selayang Hospital
Monday August 6, 2007
By STUART MICHAEL

TWO burst pipes in two weeks. That is the situation at the Selayang Hospital, the most advanced and IT-enabled hospital in the country.

On July 25 at 9pm, a PVC pipe burst and water gushed out into the walkway of the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) on the fifth floor of the hospital.

And on Saturday at 1am, another pipe burst on the third floor at the Cardiac Ward of the hospital.

Water gushed down to the emergency ward located on the second floor.

This time around, patients who were in the emergency ward were evacuated and sent to the other wards in the hospital.

A hospital staff, who did not want to be named, said the incident happened at about 1am and water poured down from the second floor until about 4am.

“The maintenance company for Selayang Hospital, Radicare (M) Sdn Bhd, vacuumed and mopped up the water from the second floor and third floor. All was cleared by about 5am the same day.

“The floor in the emergency ward was wet and patients as well as hospital staff were all in a daze,'' he said.

Recently, the Selayang Hospital director Dr Nor Akma Yusof had said that the hospital was about 10 years old and it was normal for old pipes to burst.

When asked about the possibility of the hospital changing the old PVC pipes, she said she did not make such decisions.

During the incident on Saturday, Dr Nur Akma could not be reached for comments.

nazrey

August 20th, 2007, 08:53 AM

Assunta Hospital, PJ

http://www.veritas.com.my/newsletter/Website%20Newsletter/June%20For%20web/2-June-2006.gif

nazrey

August 27th, 2007, 08:26 AM

Pantai (http://www.pantai.com.my/site.cfm?hid=2) to manage Strands private hospital
24-08-2007: By Woon Wu Lin
THEEDGEDAILY

KUALA LUMPUR: Pantai Medical Centre inked a three-year agreement with Strand Hospital & Retirement Home Sdn Bhd to manage its private hospital in Sungai Petani, said Pantai Holdings in a statement on Aug 24.

“The agreement with Strand will be Pantai’s pioneering project in providing operations and management expertise to a private hospital,” said Pantai Holdings chairman Tan Sri Datuk Mohamed Khatib.

The agreement would take effect Sept 1, and would see Pantai providing manpower and operations expertise to the newly-built hospital, which will carry the Pantai name.

Pantai has also signed an agreement with PT Semen Padang for the collaboration and reviewing of a hospital design in Padang, West Sumatra, Indonesia. The hospital is scheduled to open in 2010.

nazrey

September 1st, 2007, 10:53 AM

Al-Bukhary Hospital & Hostel, Alor Star
Copyright © 2007 Zelan Berhad. All Rights Reserved.

http://www.zelan.com/eventphotos/9_enlarge_Albukary01_big.jpg

http://www.zelan.com/eventphotos/12_enlarge_Albukary04_big.jpg

Masterplan

http://www.zelan.com/eventphotos/14_enlarge_Albukary06_big.jpg

liping_t

September 1st, 2007, 06:33 PM

Is Al-bukhary hospital named for the businessman Tan Sri Mokhtar?

nazrey

September 3rd, 2007, 05:10 AM

High-tech gift for Klang hospital
Monday September 3, 2007
By JADE CHAN
TheStar

HOSPITAL Tengku Ampuan Rahimah (HTAR), Klang, recently received a gift that would enable its radiology department to conduct faster and safer X-ray scans, and for doctors to provide increased diagnostic quality.

Canon Malaysia donated the Canon CXDI-50C portable flat panel detector system to HTAR in conjunction with the company’s 70th anniversary globally and 20th in Malaysia.

Canon CXDI-50C is a mobile X-ray unit which can also be mounted to a permanent system and is part of Canon’s CXDI digital radiography systems.

Weighing 4.8kg, it is capable of producing results within three to five seconds and reduces the dosage of radiation by as much as 50%.

The increased diagnostic quality allows doctors to come up with the best medical solutions to address the patients’ ailments.

HTAR is the first hospital in Malaysia to have the advanced X-ray scanner, which is valued at about RM350,000.

According to HTAR director Dr Yahya Baba, HTAR is the third busiest hospital in Malaysia and receives about 160,000 outpatient and casualty patients per year.

“The Canon CXDI-50C will help improve and enhance our delivery system and benefit those who need treatment at the hospital.

“It will also inspire us to provide the best service to people in Klang, Selangor and even Malaysia,” he said.

“With so many of our staff living in the vicinity of Shah Alam and Klang, we wanted to donate the Canon CXDI-50C that will not only benefit our staff and their families but the patients of HTAR,” said Canon Opto Malaysia Sdn Bhd managing director Kazuaki Tanaka.

nazrey

September 8th, 2007, 04:26 AM

Pantai to spend over RM300m to develop medical centre
by Lee Yu Tang, 07 Sep 2007 11:42 AM
THEEDGEDAILY

KUALA LUMPUR: Pantai Holdings Bhd, which was delisted early this year, will be investing over RM300 million to develop and rebuild two of its hospital blocks at the Pantai Medical Centre.

Its chairman Tan Sri Mohamed Khatib said the rebuilding of the two blocks would include the development of a clinical centre of excellence to cater to medical tourism in Malaysia.

“We expect to complete the development by 2010,” he told reporters after the company’s EGM here yesterday.

At the EGM, minority shareholders approved its proposed selective capital repayment (SCR) exercise involving a capital reduction of RM117 million, equivalent to RM2.63 per share for about 44.5 million shares after accounting for a two sen dividend which was paid out on July 13.

Mohamed said the SCR, which is expected to be completed by year-end, would allow majority shareholder Pantai Irama Ventures Sdn Bhd to fully own Pantai from its current 91% stake. After the SCR, he said Khazanah Nasional Bhd and Parkway Holdings Ltd would own 60% and 40% of Pantai respectively via Pantai Irama.

Asked about their business strategy overseas going forward, Mohamed said the company, which currently manages nine hospitals in Malaysia, had signed a memorandum of understanding with PT Semen Padang in Indonesia to manage a private hospital in Padang, West Sumatra.

He said both parties were now at the pre-feasibility stage and Pantai would advise its Indonesian counterpart on the construction and design aspects. “The next markets we are looking at are Vietnam and China,” he said.

On the company’s expansion plan in Malaysia, he said the company intended to build a hospital in the eastern part of Peninsular Malaysia to add its presence in the other three regions in the north, central and south. He said Pantai was also planning to venture into Sabah and Sarawak.

Pantai’s group managing director Faisal Ismail said apart from its two concessions in Malaysia held by Fomema Sdn Bhd and Pantai Medivest Sdn Bhd, the company would be making an initial investment of US$10 million (RM35 million) in Bandung, Indonesia with the West Java provincial government to treat medical waste.

“We hope to set up the treatment plant in June next year after our partner (West Java provincial government) has secured approval from the Indonesian central government,” said Faisal.

Its executive director Dr Tan See Leng said the company was expecting double digit growth in healthcare tourism next year, which is presently growing below 10%.

nazrey

September 13th, 2007, 10:06 AM

Manipal to invest in Malaysia
By Zaidi Isham Ismail
September 12 2007
BusinessTimes

The largest healthcare management group in Asia will set up its first hospital in Penang and a stem cell research and development centre in Bukit Jalil Technology Park

THE Manipal Education and Medical Group International of India, Asia's largest healthcare management group, is coming to Malaysia next month.

It will set up its first hospital in Penang and a stem cell research and development centre in Bukit Jalil Technology Park.

Malaysian Biotechnology Corp Sdn Bhd chief executive officer Datuk Iskandar Mizal Mahmood said the group will invest an initial US$5 million (RM17.6 million) for phase one and subsequent investments for the later phases will depend on the requirements at that time.

"Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Datuk Seri Dr Jamaluddin Jarjis will be officiating at the ground breaking ceremony on October 17," Iskandar told reporters in Kuala Lumpur yesterday after launching a biotechnology entrepreneurship conference.

Iskandar said the business deal was a result of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) signed during BIO 2007, the world's largest annual biotechnology convention and exhibition held in Boston, the US, in May.

The Malaysian delegation to BIO 2007 was led by Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak. Under the MOU, a Manipal Group subsidiary will be established in Malaysia to spearhead stem-cell research.

The deal follows a deal forged last month between the Malaysian government and US biotechnology firm Actis Biologics Inc which will invest as much as US$400 million (RM1.41 billion) to set up operations in Malacca.

Malaysia wants to become a regional biotechnology hub to get a slice of the lucrative market. The world's 5,000 biotech firms, of which 70 per cent are in the US, are forecast to make over US$1 trillion (RM3.52 trillion) of revenue by 2015.

The Manipal Group of companies, named after a university town in southern India, is a major financial and industrial group managing 11 hospitals, eight teaching hospitals, seven rural maternity and child welfare homes and also has activities spread over financial services and manufacturing.

The Manipal Healthcare Group owns internationally renowned hospitals such as the Manipal Hospital in Bangalore and Kasturba Hospital in Manipal.

Manipal is also a centre of academic learning, comprising two universities, 24 professional colleges, affiliated institutes and numerous primary and high schools with 70,000 graduate students.

It is also home to Syndicate Bank, a leading bank in India and hi-tech industries like Manipal Dot Net and the Karnataka Microelectronics Design Centre.

nazrey

September 19th, 2007, 05:47 AM

New private hospital for Kepala Batas
Wednesday September 19, 2007
TheStar

INDIA’S Manipal Health Systems and Sri Arunanesh Sdn Bhd have agreed to set up a hospital in Kepala Batas, Penang.

Malaysia Nanban reported that the 200-bed hospital, which is expected to start operations by 2009, would be located near Kepala Batas town.

The hospital will offer a range of services, including general medicine, general surgery, obstetrics, gynaecology and paediatrics, cardiology and cardiothoracic surgery.

Chief Minister Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon said the hospital would also help to promote health tourism.

Manipal Education and Medical Group managing director Dr Ranjan Rai said the group had been educating doctors for the past 50 years.

He said they had access to a large pool of doctors working in some of the finest hospitals in the world.

nazrey

September 26th, 2007, 05:15 AM

KL Hospital (http://www.hkl.gov.my/) to get RM1.5bil facelift
Wednesday September 26, 2007

KUALA LUMPUR: The Kuala Lumpur Hospital (HKL) will be redeveloped under a RM1.5bil facelift programme to transform it to the country’s best medical and healthcare facility.

The redevelopment – slated under the Ninth Malaysia Plan – would focus on specific specialised medical and health disciplines, said hospital director Datuk Dr Zaininah Mohd Zain.

Under the plan, the number of hospital beds would be halved to 1,200 from the current 2,400 to allocate more funds to specialised expertise and professional services.

Dr Zaininah said that basically, the hospital would have a spanking new premises without having to relocate to another place.

She said the facelift would be implemented in stages.

Speaking to reporters after receiving Raya goodies from the Federal Territory Islamic Religious Council yesterday, Dr Zaininah said the hospital treated about a million patients last year, of whom 380,000 were outpatients.

Meanwhile, the council has allocated more than RM2mil this year to provide medical equipment and financial aid to patients at HKL, University Malaya Medical Centre and Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Hospital in Cheras.

Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Dr Abdullah Md Zin said the council extended the aid during Ramadan every year.

Abdullah, who is the council’s chairman, handed RM250,000 to the HKL Hospital Welfare Fund and medical equipment worth about RM96,300. – Bernama

nazrey

September 26th, 2007, 05:21 AM

Kuala Lumpur Hospital (HKL)

http://www.hkl.gov.my/content/psychiatry_intro_g1.jpg

YeahWho

September 26th, 2007, 09:55 PM

^^ hospitals nowadays are just fine looking!!

And make you want to stay there. :lol: :lol: :lol:

liping_t

September 27th, 2007, 01:51 AM

triple-j

October 8th, 2007, 05:52 PM

Just checked the site this morning.

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1261/534017278_503020a95f.jpg
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1099/534117723_bfe520b93c.jpg

TODAY'S

existing hospital
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2315/1516063584_f7ddc25ded.jpg?v=0

new building behind it
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2051/1515202523_33b91fa73a.jpg?v=0

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2091/1516061522_bd84afc3db.jpg?v=0

nazrey

October 12th, 2007, 06:28 PM

Pandan Hospital
Johor Bahru, Johor Darul Takzim (704 Beds).

http://www.pjindah.com.my/images/pandan.jpg

nazrey

October 12th, 2007, 06:46 PM

Perdana Specialist Hospital

http://img02.picoodle.com/img/img02/9/10/12/f_015m_c42dbfa.jpg

Hospital Pakar Perdana (http://www.perdana.kpjhealth.com.my/pengenalan.htm) (PERDANA) is the 11th hospital under KPJ Healthcare Berhad, the largest healthcare provider in Malaysia. It has a maximum capacity of 126-beds. Located at the heart of Kota Bharu Bandar Raya Islam with an aim to bring quality healthcare nearer and accessible to patients. In addition to outpatients and inpatients care, the multi-disciplinary care provided by PERDANA includes a host of up-to-date support facilities.

PERDANA was opened for outpatient treatment on 28th December 2001 and inpatient on 2nd April 2002. We are committed to meet your needs and to serve you in an ethical, efficient, professional and caring manner.

nazrey

October 13th, 2007, 03:30 PM

Cameron Highlands Hospital
By: Eddie PhotoVideo Professional PhotoVideographer of fotopages.com
Intro

http://img39.picoodle.com/img/img39/6/10/15/f_jrpym_fde5825.jpg

nazrey

October 13th, 2007, 03:39 PM

Temerloh Hospital (http://www.spkb.net/construction/hospital.asp)
This hospital is to serve the central Pahang region and once completed will be the most advanced hospital in the state. The cost of this complex is astronomical and the sheer size of it is massive.

http://blog.davidteoh.com/archives/temerloh1.jpg

http://www.isotop.com.my/images/project_01b.jpg

Temerloh Resident

http://www.isotop.com.my/images/project_02b.jpg

triple-j

October 15th, 2007, 09:01 PM

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2216/1580162636_57697b7483.jpg?v=0

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2218/1579262757_d330b45b72.jpg?v=0

Hotel Putra KL just beside hospital pusrawi
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2180/1579259775_dde5e48680.jpg?v=0

triple-j

October 15th, 2007, 09:03 PM

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2292/1579254267_8fd16c6ded.jpg?v=0

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2153/1579256825_47c08089dd.jpg?v=0

nazrey

October 16th, 2007, 05:37 AM

Assunta Hospital
by Veritas Architects Sdn. Bhd.

http://www.veritas.com.my/port_varc_instit/for%20web%202.jpg

A new 7-storey hospital located in Petaling Jaya. Once completed, the hospital will be equipped with consulting clinics, operating theatres, an executive ward facilities and a new 7- storey car park. The project also covers up grading and refurbishment of the existing building which will eventually tie in with the new block.

http://img03.picoodle.com/img/img03/6/10/15/f_09m_ca60f7f.jpg

triple-j

October 25th, 2007, 05:00 PM

formerly know as general hospital, KL

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2290/1746155876_936c552342_o.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2045/1746158794_498a780a01_o.jpg

nazrey

October 27th, 2007, 12:35 PM

Putrajaya Hospital
by AngeliCiou$

http://img33.picoodle.com/img/img33/8/7/1/f_558m_62d3abb.jpg

by Dany'06

http://img38.picoodle.com/img/img38/9/7/18/f_006m_370fd87.jpg

Putrajaya gets cancer centre
Saturday October 27, 2007
TheStar

PUTRAJAYA: Information on cancer, notably breast cancer, is now readily available at the Putrajaya Hospital with the setting-up of a resource centre.

The centre will provide knowledge and support to those stricken with the disease and family members.

The Putrajaya Hospital Cancer Resource Centre, the first of its kind in the country, has up-to-date reading material on various cancers, treatments and other vital information.

The centre also provides networking with cancer survivors offering emotional support via Cancer Network Association (KanWork).

Hospital director Dr Mohd Norzi Ghazali said the centre’s role was also to provide general information on cancer to educate the public on cancer, including treatment, medication and post-treatment care.

“What is also important is that it is a platform for those with cancer to come together and share their experience and knowledge,” he said.

“It is also an avenue for partners, family members and friends of patients to get advice and support on how to deal with a cancer patient.”

Dr Norzi said cancer was the second-highest killer in the country after road accidents, with 30,000 new cases detected annually.

Putrajaya Hospital head of breast and endocrine surgical department and consultant surgeon Datuk Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said the hospital received between 150 and 200 breast cancer cases each year.

“It is important to create greater cancer awareness. According to census, 60% of cancer patients only realised they had cancer at a late stage,” he said.

nazrey

October 27th, 2007, 01:17 PM

Columbia Asia sees 25% revenue from Puchong hospital
by Woon Wu Lin, 26 Oct 2007 11:06 PM
THEEDGE

http://www.theedgedaily.com/cms/storage/images/com.tms.cms.image.Image_dcd92e57-cb73c03a-17ebe660-5b30e090/1/columbia-asia_inside.jpg

KUALA LUMPUR: Healthcare company Columbia Asia Sdn Bhd expects its new RM55 million hospital in Puchong to contribute 25% of the company’s revenue in its financial year ending March 31, 2008.

Its Southeast Asia chief executive officer Kelvin Tan said the annualised revenue from the Columbia Asia Medical Centre (CAMC) Puchong could be as high as RM30 million based on the estimated RM13 million for the second half of the current financial year. Columbia Asia is projecting its group revenue to hit RM51 million for FY08.

Speaking to reporters at the official opening of the company’s seventh hospital yesterday, he said: “We have already achieved about half so far and our profit margin would be about 10% to 15%.”

Columbia Asia is 30% owned by the Employees Provident Fund (EPF) and the rest by Columbia Pacific Healthcare Sdn Bhd, a wholly owned subsidiary of International Columbia US LLC, which also has operations in India, Indonesia and the Philippines.

Tan said another three hospitals would be opened soon beginning with its CAMC in Taiping in six months, Kota Damansara in a year and Nusajaya in 2009.

“The cost is about the same (as CAMC Puchong), the only variation is the cost of land,” said the company’s group medical director Dr Mohd Arrifin Ali.

Tan said CAMC Puchong took 15 months to build and is one of Columbia Asia’s model hospitals with similar infrastructure, process and hospital management software.

It has 20 resident doctors and visiting consultants, and is equipped with 78 beds to serve a population of over 280,000 from Puchong and the surrounding neighbourhoods.

Tan said the hospital uses a proprietary software operating system, which coordinates medical records, billing and queuing of patients to enable a paperless environment.

He said the initial cost of the system was US$2 million (RM6.8 million) but had risen to US$3 million.

“It will continue to rise as we find certain needs from doctors,” Tan said, adding that RM15 million from the total cost was spent on medical equipment to ensure up-to-date diagnostic, ancillary and surgical facilities.

With the efficiency of the system and the company’s focus on reducing a patient’s stay in the hospital, he said treatment costs could become more affordable.

He added that 60% to 70% of the cases admitted to Columbia Asia hospitals were insurance-related, indicating its affordable pricing.

adzmierz_azizan

November 6th, 2007, 03:22 AM

adzmierz_azizan

November 6th, 2007, 03:23 AM

http://img255.imageshack.us/img255/4099/04042006003ef9.th.jpg (http://img255.imageshack.us/my.php?image=04042006003ef9.jpg)

adzmierz_azizan

November 6th, 2007, 03:25 AM

http://img337.imageshack.us/img337/408/04042006002rf8.th.jpg (http://img337.imageshack.us/my.php?image=04042006002rf8.jpg)http://img337.imageshack.us/img337/3779/04042006006nx2.th.jpg (http://img337.imageshack.us/my.php?image=04042006006nx2.jpg)

adzmierz_azizan

November 6th, 2007, 03:28 AM

http://img337.imageshack.us/img337/3779/04042006006nx2.th.jpg (http://img337.imageshack.us/my.php?image=04042006006nx2.jpg)

adzmierz_azizan

November 6th, 2007, 03:29 AM

]http://img337.imageshack.us/img337/3779/04042006006nx2.th.jpg[/URL][img=http://img129.imageshack.us/img129/43/kedahmedicalcentrezd9.th.jpg] (http://img129.imageshack.us/my.php?image=kedahmedicalcentrezd9.jpg)

adzmierz_azizan

November 6th, 2007, 03:31 AM

[img=http://img129.imageshack.us/img129/43/kedahmedicalcentrezd9.th.jpg] (http://img129.imageshack.us/my.php?image=kedahmedicalcentrezd9.jpg)

nazrey

November 20th, 2007, 08:03 AM

Isyoda bags deal to build Shah Alam hospital
Published: 2007/11/19 BusinessTimes

ISYODA Corp Bhd said it has won a RM451.2 million sub-contract to build a 300-bed hospital in Shah Alam. The contract was given by Sunshine Fleet Sdn Bhd to its unit, Isyoda (M) Sdn Bhd, it said in a statement to Bursa Malaysia yesterday. The contract is for 33 months and work must be completed by August 14 2010.

nazrey

November 23rd, 2007, 03:19 AM

http://www.vamed.com/imperia/md/images/projects/12_290x195.jpg

http://www.vamed.com/imperia/md/images/projects/3_290x195.jpg

MARC ASSIGNS AAA(s)ID RATING TO SARAWAK SPECIALIST HOSPITAL & MEDICAL CENTRE SDN BHD’S ISTISNA’ SERIAL BONDS OF UP TO RM425 MILLION

20 Sep 2004 - MARC has assigned a rating of AAA(s)ID (AAA Support, Islamic Debt) to Sarawak Specialist Hospital & Medical Centre Sdn Bhd’s (SSHMC) Istisna’ Serial Bonds (Bonds). The rating reflects the AAA rating of the Sarawak State Government as the principal and profit payments of the Bonds will be satisfied via proceeds of share subscription payments as evidenced by the back-to-back Redeemable Preference Share Subscription Agreements between the State Financial Secretary Incorporated (SFS Inc.) and SSHMC Management and Holdings Sdn Bhd (SSHMC Holdings), and SSHMC Holdings and the Issuer, SSHMC. SFS Inc. is a statutory corporation established under the State Financial Secretary (Incorporated) Ordinance under the laws of Sarawak and controlled by the State.

SSHMC was incorporated in July 2001 to facilitate the construction of Sarawak International Medical Centre (SIMC), a project conceived by the State Government of Sarawak. SSHMC is a wholly-owned subsidiary of SSHMC Holdings which in turn is wholly-owned by SFS Inc. SSHMC’s current paid-up capital is RM50.5 million.

Proceeds from the proposed financing exercise will be mainly utilized to finance the construction of SIMC and its related cost; and to finance the purchase of medical and non-medical equipments. The development of this phase will include three- storey hospital podium complex with an attached eight-storey inpatient accommodation building, a section of the main access road from Kota Samarahan Expressway and a portion of the inner ring road plus linkage to UNIMAS.

The proposed SIMC, covering an area of approximately 100 acres, is located at Kota Samarahan and will have an easy access to Kuching City and Kuching International Airport. In addition, Technology Park which is situated to the north and UNIMAS to the south of SIMC, will help enhance SIMC’s image as a potentially dynamic medical hub in line with its vision to become a medical centre of excellence for the people of Sarawak and the surrounding countries.

The proposed hospital is designed to meet the demands of a highly specialized modern health care facility. The selection of medical equipment and information technology application will be driven by the latest technology available.

Under the proposed Istisna’ Bonds, SSHMC will issue eight tranches of Primary Bonds with a total value of up to RM425 million to raise net proceeds of approximately RM380 million. The issuance of the Bonds will take place following the execution of the Share Subscription Agreements, of which payments will be used exclusively to satisfy the principal and profit payments of the Bonds. The payments for the share subscription are scheduled so as to correspond to the scheduled payments of the Bonds in terms of amount and timing. Each installment payment is credited into the Finance Service Reserve Account (FSRA), an account jointly managed by SSHMC and the Facility Agent for the purpose of the Bonds repayment, one month before each scheduled payment of the Bonds which occurs semiannually. With the terms and conditions provided in the Agreements, credit risk and liquidity risk of the Bonds are essentially mitigated.

Given the importance of the project to the state, MARC believes that construction or completion risk is significantly mitigated. The risk is moderated further by the fact that SSHMC is entitled to LAD at the rate of RM50,000 per day, which can be deducted from any monies due to the Contractor as well as recovered from the Performance Bonds.

Sarawak International Medical Centre (SIMC), Kuching
by George Fricker

http://www.pbase.com/junglegeorge/image/70906486.jpg

Medical centre ready next year
Friday November 23, 2007
TheStar

KUCHING: The Sarawak International Medical Centre (SIMC) is expected to be ready by the middle of next year, Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri Dr George Chan told the Sarawak State Assembly yesterday.

He said the project, which commenced in July 2003, initially had a contractual completion period of 36 months.

“However, due to inclement weather, shortage of critical construction materials, revision of design to meet new requirements under the Private Health Care Facilities and Services Act and delay on the part of the civil works contractor and sub-contractors, the new completion date is now expected to be in the middle of 2008,” he told Chong Chieng Jen (DAP – Kota Sentosa).

He said the contract sum for the project’s building works, design and consultancy fees was RM288.56mil, with an additional 36.3mil euros (RM180.4mil) for specialist medical and IT equipment.

Assistant Minister of Land Development Naroden Majais told the House that the state government had yet to determine the viability of cultivating jatropha and bamboo on a commercial scale.

“There is no policy or plan for planting the two trees or for developing an industry out of these crops,” he said in reply to Peter Nansian (BN – Tasik Biru) and Dr Abdul Rahman Ismail (BN – Bukit Kota).

He also said that the Land Development Ministry was identifying research institutions in the state to carry out research and development on jatropha as it was a relatively new crop.

“Although there are five institutions carrying out R&D on the crop in Peninsular Malaysia and their findings may be relevant to us, we still have to undertake intensive research on the feasibility of cultivating jatropha on a large scale under Sarawak conditions,” he said.

Jatropha can be used to produce biodiesel.

liping_t

November 24th, 2007, 08:35 PM

So, if the Sarawak Int Med Center is chiefly owned by the State Gov, will that make it a Public or a Private hospital?

nazrey

December 11th, 2007, 12:01 PM

rizalhakim

December 17th, 2007, 10:57 AM

tawakal hospital 15/12/07

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rizalhakim

December 17th, 2007, 10:58 AM

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TWK90

December 18th, 2007, 12:07 PM

Source : http://biz.thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2007/12/18/business/20071218164848&sec=business

Indian investment for dental college hospital

By EUGENE MAHALINGAM

KUALA LUMPUR: India's Vinayaka Mission's University will invest RM55mil to set up Penang International Dental College (PIDC), expected to be one of the largest dental college hospitals in South-East Asia.

To be completed by Sept 2010, the facility will be built on 10 acres of land worth RM4.5mil in Kepala Batas and have a built-up space of 150,000 sq ft. Construction will begin September, 2008.

PIDC chief executive officer and managing director Dr S. Sharavanan said that the facility would serve both as a college and a dental hospital.

"PIDC, with 250 dental chairs, is expected to be one of the biggest state-of-the-art dental hospitals in South-East Asia," he said at a press conference on Tuesday.

He said one of the reasons for the set up in Kepala Batas was because Malaysia had the potential of becoming a regional hub for dental studies and treatment.

He also said that cost was another reason for setting up the facility on Malaysian soil.

"Tuition fees for a complete dental programme in Australia would cost as much as RM500,000 while a similar programme at PIDC would cost just RM175,000," he said.

nazrey

December 18th, 2007, 12:17 PM

Since once Penang is a hub for education in ASEAN..Great news!

nazrey

January 2nd, 2008, 02:09 PM

Hospital Serdang
Sepang

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Hospital Sungai Buloh
Gombak

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Hospital Ampang
Hulu Langat

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rizalhakim

January 18th, 2008, 07:04 AM

Timur: RM40j dilulus bagi pembinaan Hospital Bera
Oleh Roselan Ab Malek

TEMERLOH: Daerah Bera bakal mempunyai sebuah hospital baru serba moden dan lengkap bagi kemudahan penduduk Bera yang akan dibina dalam Rancangan Malaysia Kesembilan (RMK-9).

Ahli Parlimen Bera, Datuk Ismail Sabri Yaakub, berkata Kerajaan Pusat sudah meluluskan peruntukan RM40 juta bagi pembinaan hospital berkenaan.

"Satu tapak di Bandar 34 dekat rancangan Felda Gugusan Triang didapati sesuai untuk pembinaan projek hospital berkenaan yang akan memberikan perkhidmatan kepada lebih 80,000 penduduk di daerah itu," katanya.

Beliau berkata, walaupun beberapa klinik kesihatan dan pusat kesihatan sudah dibina sekitar Bera, ia tidak dapat menampung keperluan kerana bilangan penduduk yang semakin bertambah.

"Pada masa ini, sesetengah penduduk terpaksa mendapatkan perkhidmatan dan rawatan di Hospital Temerloh yang jaraknya 50 kilometer dan Hospital Bahau, Negeri Sembilan yang jaraknya 100 kilometer dari Bera.

"Jika berlaku sebarang kecemasan, tentu ia merumitkan kerana kedudukan kedua-dua hospital agak jauh," katanya.

Ismail berkata, dengan ada sebuah hospital baru dan moden, ia dapat memberikan perkhidmatan dan rawatan kepada penduduk sekali gus menjimatkan perbelanjaan penduduk untuk berulang ke hospital Temerloh atau Bahau yang jarak perjalanannya mengambil masa lama dan jauh.

Dalam perkembangan lain, Ismail berkata, sebuah kolej komuniti dan sebuah sekolah menengah sukan serta Agro Pertanian akan diwujudkan di daerah ini tidak lama lagi.

"Usaha menubuhkan kolej komuniti itu akan menjadi kenyataan apabila sebuah bangunan akan disewa tidak lama lagi.

"Sekolah menengah sukan dan agro pertanian pula akan ditempatkan di Sekolah Kebangsaan Tembangau Enam," katanya.

Sekolah berkenaan katanya, yang serba lengkap dan mempunyai bilik darjah serta prasarana mencukupi termasuk asrama akan dibaik pulih untuk dijadikan Sekolah Menengah Sukan dan agro pertanian.

Sekolah berkenaan juga bakal menampung pelajar dari sekolah menengah sekitar daerah Bera selain pelajar dari daerah lain.

nazrey

January 19th, 2008, 07:12 AM

Hospital Sungai Buloh
Gombak

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Hospital Sungai Buloh
by SRI MELOR

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rizalhakim

January 31st, 2008, 06:05 AM

30/01/08
TAWAKAL HOSPITAL

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rizalhakim

February 5th, 2008, 02:55 AM

Gadang awarded hospital project worth RM342m
By Sharen Kaur
Published: 2008/02/04

The construction firm expects net profit and revenue to improve significantly next year with the award of the Cheras Rehabilitation Hospital job

GADANG Holdings Bhd, a construction company, expects revenue for fiscal 2009 to rise and hit RM300 million, driven mainly by a contract to build a hospital.

Yesterday, it received a letter of award to build the Cheras Rehabilitation (formerly, Lady Templer) Hospital in Kuala Lumpur for RM341.9 million.

Its subsidiary, Gadang Engineering (M) Sdn Bhd, received the letter of intent for the project in 2003 in a 55:45 joint venture with Perembun (M) Sdn Bhd.

The contract is to build a 300-bed hospital equipped with clinical facilities, staff quarters and lodging for visiting family members, on a 16ha site owned by the Health Ministry.

It will also have to demolish several old buildings at the site, and retain one as a heritage block.

"We expect net profit and revenue to improve significantly next year with the award of this hospital contract," said Datuk Kok Onn, Gadang chief executive officer and managing director.

Kok told Business Times that earnings will also rise in 2009 as contribution from several contracts awarded recently will flow from June 2008.

"We still have several jobs which we have bid for under the Ninth Malaysia Plan. We expect to clinch another two or three deals this year," he said.

For the year to May 2007, Gadang posted a net profit of RM14.5 million on top of RM226 million in revenue.

Analysts are bullish on Gadang. They expect it to make a net profit of RM20 million, and more than RM300 million in 2009.

"Gadang has won several jobs recently including the RM280 million Kemuning-Shah Alam highway contract. It may also win a RM200 million contract to build a sewerage plant in Malacca by May.

"So, we are confident it's overall earnings will improve significantly with all these jobs in hand," said an OSK Research analyst.

The hospital will deal with post-road accident cases, stroke victims, patients with spinal and brain injury and other physically crippling injuries. It is set to be the first of its kind in Malaysia, and the biggest in Southeast Asia.

nazrey

February 6th, 2008, 02:27 PM

Gadang's JV to build rehab hospital for RM342m
By Ellina Badri, 05 Feb 2008 10:06 AM
THEEDGEDAILY

KUALA LUMPUR: Gadang Holdings Bhd's 55%-owned joint venture, Konsortium Gadang Perembun, has secured a contract to build a rehabilitation hospital in Cheras for RM341.9 million.

In a statement yesterday, Gadang said Konsortium Gadang Perembun was an unincorporated JV between its subsidiary Gadang Engineering (M) Sdn Bhd and Perembun (M) Sdn Bhd.

Works for the hospital included its design, construction and completion, testing, commissioning and maintenance. It said construction would take 144 weeks. The date for site possession is Feb 15 for completion by Nov 18, 2010.

Gadang said the contract would contribute positively for the financial years ending May 31, 2009 and May 31, 2010.

rizalhakim

February 12th, 2008, 03:51 AM

Ranhill clinches RM1.2b hospital contract
Published: 2008/02/12

Malaysia's largest engineering group is finalising the project structure and cost, and the details will be ready in two weeks, sources say

RANHILL Bhd, Malaysia's largest engineering group, has been awarded a RM1.2 billion contract to build a 600-bed women and children hospital in Kuala Lumpur, sources say.

The contract is to build two 13-storey tower blocks with a six-floor podium, with a total floor area of 190,000 sq metres, a source said.

"It also includes extending another 100 beds in the future, when demand meets supply," he added.

Business Times understands the federal government contract was given recently and Ranhill has commenced works at the site. The hospital is an extension of the existing Pediatric Institute at the Kuala Lumpur Hospital.

It will be the leading referral centre in the country upon completion by 2011.

The source said Ranhill, via its wholly-owned unit Ranhill Engineering and Constructors Sdn Bhd, aims to finish building the two towers ahead of schedule.

In doing that, the contract has been divided into two packages to speed up the works.

"The first package, worth around RM17 million, is for site- clearing and logistics. The second portion involves the main structural work, which is expected to start by June," the sourcen said.

"Ranhill is finalising the project structure and cost. The details will be ready in two weeks," the source added.

The source also said that the contract award is expected to mitigate Ranhill's plan in achieving RM2 billion in revenue by 2010.

For the 12-month period to June 2007, Ranhill posted a profit of RM117 million and revenue of RM1.47 billion.

Ranhill, which has over RM1 billion worth of contracts for the Desaru Highway, sports complexes across the country and water jobs through unit SAJ Holdings Sdn Bhd, is eyeing more jobs here.

Overseas, it plans to secure new infrastructure and sewerage treatment works in Libya and water, waste water and power plant projects in India. - By Sharen Kaur

nazrey

March 6th, 2008, 02:18 PM

RM26m district hospital
Thursday March 6, 2008
TheStar

BANDAR Baru Air Itam in Penang will have a RM25.8mil district hospital before the end of next year.

Work on the six-storey hospital, which will have dental, physiotherapy and X-ray services, began last month and will take 18 months to complete, said Barisan Nasional candidate for Bukit Gelugor parliamentary seat, Datuk Koay Kar Huah, who visited the construction site in Jalan Angsana yesterday.

He said the project was initially slated to be a health clinic but the MCA appealed for a better healthcare centre for the constituency which resulted in the Health Ministry approving a type-two hospital.

“The project was initiated by incumbent Paya Terubong assemblyman Datuk Dr Loh Hock Hun who appealed several times to the Health Ministry before the hospital was approved,” he told a press conference yesterday.

The hospital, which will have a 5535.64 sq m built-up area, will also serve residents of nearby areas, including Paya Terubong, Rifle Range, Green Lane and Relau.

Koay said it was the MCA’s aim to get the best possible facilities for the people of all races in the constituency as well as to fight for the welfare and needs of constituents.

He said Bukit Gelugor, and Paya Terubong in particular, was developing at a very fast pace with many residential projects mushrooming over the past few years.

“If I am elected as MP, I promise voters that I will try my best to get allocations to set up more facilities at the hospital,” he added.

Barisan’s Paya Terubong candidate Koh Wan Leong said he would monitor the progress of the project closely and cooperate with Koay to ensure that the hospital was completed on time if he was given the mandate by the people to be their assemblyman.

The Bukit Gelugor MCA campaigning team briefly turned fire-fighters when they helped put out a small fire which started from a stove at an apartment in Block 20 of Taman Terubong Jaya.

Koay and Koh were doing door-to-door rounds there when the incident happened at 12.30pm.

Koay said that they heard people shouting for help a few levels below when they were campaigning on the 9th floor of the block.

“We rushed to the seventh floor where we saw thick smoke coming out from the unit’s kitchen window,” he said.

The team borrowed hose pipes from a neighbour and doused the burning stove through the open window before firemen arrived about five minutes later.

Unit owner Teoh Geok Lan, 42, who was informed of the fire by a neighbour, said she had forgotten to turn off the gas stove when she went to town.

“I am so lucky, I really can’t imagine what will happen to my apartment if it weren’t for them (MCA team),” she said gratefully.

rizalhakim

March 10th, 2008, 07:43 AM

Parkway to expand in Malaysia
By Vasantha Ganesan
Published: 2008/03/10

The Singapore group, which operates Pantai and Gleneagles hospitals in Malaysia, may buy rivals or increase the number of hospitals it manages

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SINGAPORE'S Parkway Holdings Ltd, which both manages and has a stake in the Pantai Hospital Group, may buy rivals or grow existing hospitals to expand in Malaysia.

"There are plans to grow and add hospitals to the system. The Pantai group will grow," group executive vice president Daniel J. Snyder said.

However, he was unable to reveal any specifics. Parkway prefers to have a stake in the hospitals that it manages.

Parkway, a leading healthcare group in Asia owning a network of hospitals and medical centres around the region, also has two Gleneagles hospitals in Malaysia under its ambit.

"Malaysia has wonderful plans for growth in the Iskandar Development Region and in specific sectors like healthcare and tourism.

"As Malaysia is growing, so do we look to growing in Malaysia," Snyder told Business Times on the sidelines of the Medical Travel World Congress 2008 in Kuala Lumpur recently.

In fact, Gleneagles Penang is building another hospital, to be completed in 2011, which will add 230 beds, Parkway said at the presentation of its 2007 financial results.

Gleneagles Kuala Lumpur will add 30 beds, while Pantai Ayer Keroh will expand to accommodate more clinics. Pantai Batu Pahat will have more beds on its fifth floor.

Parkway, through its stake and management contract, currently operates eight Pantai Hospitals, Gleneagles Medical Centre, Penang, and Gleneagles Intan Kuala Lumpur.

In the fourth quarter of 2006, Parkway restructured its interest in Pantai. Pantai ceased to be a subsidiary and became a joint-venture company.

Its effective equity interest is about 40 per cent from November 2006. Khazanah Nasional Bhd controls Pantai.

When asked if any of the Pantai Hospitals were loss-making, Snyder said: "Pantai as a group is profitable."

rizalhakim

March 10th, 2008, 07:44 AM

Medical tourism revenue seen growing 30pc yearly
Published: 2008/03/10

THE Association of Private Hospitals of Malaysia (APHM) has projected receipts from foreigners seeking medical treatment in the country to grow 30 per cent a year until 2010.

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By that time, Malaysian healthcare providers could well rake in as much as RM584 million in medical revenue from treating some 849,000 foreigners.

"Between 2000 and 2007, the increase has been between 25 per cent and 30 per cent per year," APHM chairman for database and health tourism committee, Datuk Dr K. Kulaveerasingam, said.

"Thus far, the Americans have been coming here mainly for cosmetic surgery.

"We hope to be able to lure patients from the US, the UK and Europe once our Malaysian Society for Quality in Health (MSQH) receives the International Society for Quality in Health Care Inc (ISQua) accreditation," he added.

Malaysia has its own MSQH scheme for accreditation, which is based on the Australian healthcare standard.

"We expect to have the accreditation by ISQua by this month," he said.

ISQua, a non-profit, independent organisation with members in more than 70 countries, is known as the accreditor for accrediting bodies.

Dr Kulaveerasingam also said that Malaysia is currently working with tour agencies in the US to bring in those who are not medically insured, or who are under-insured.

"Up to 40 per cent of those in the US are not insured. This is a potential market for us," he said.

Malaysia's medical tourism receipts could, in fact, be more than the forecast, given that the figures have been projected based on available data - only 25 out of 35 registered hospitals provide their numbers to the association.

Initial estimates indicate that there could be 386,000 patients from overseas and RM265 million income for the hospitals last year.

Some 70 per cent of overseas patients are from Indonesia.

Dr Kulaveerasingam said the projections were made based on the available data.

The growth forecast is actually not too far from those made by "Patients Beyond Borders" author, Josef Woodman, who estimates medical tourism to grow 20-34 per cent annually, and that by 2010 the global market for the business will be US$40 billion (about RM127 billion).

According to Woodman, there are between two million and three million medical travellers worldwide, with most going to Southeast Asia, North Asia and India.

Reports have also indicated that Singapore wants to bring in one million foreign patients by 2012, from about 400,000 in 2006, while Thailand wants to draw two million foreign patients by 2010, up from 1.25 million in 2005. - By Vasantha Ganesan

nazrey

March 19th, 2008, 04:09 PM

rizalhakim

March 21st, 2008, 05:07 AM

Mahkota Medical poised for growth
By Vasantha Ganesan
Published: 2008/03/21

The group, which is eyeing Sabah and Sarawak, would like to go where there is no heavy concentration of private hospitals, says its chief executive officer

THE Mahkota Medical Group, which has a hospital in Malacca and will soon open one in Johor, is eyeing Sabah and Sarawak next.

"We have our radar screen on other towns, especially those in Sabah and Sarawak. We would like to go where there is no heavy concentration of private hospitals," Mahkota Medical Centre Sdn Bhd chief executive officer Francis Lim told Business Times in an interview.

"We have taken a look at some sites, (but) nothing has been decided," he said.

"We have to look at our shareholders' interest. We do not want to rush into it."

Lim said that the group may consider accepting management contracts without an equity stake.

Given that Malaysia is pushing for medical tourism to bring in foreign exchange, Lim hopes that the tax incentives given to those in Nusajaya, Johor, and set-ups in the Port Dickson Wellness Zone in Negri Sembilan will be extended to all private hospitals.

"Healthcare requires heavy investment," he said.

The Mahkota Medical Centre in Malacca started operations in 1994 under the Lion Group.

Lion, which restructured and sold its non-core businesses during the 1997/98 financial crisis, sold the hospital in September 2001.

The Mahkota Medical Group is now owned by Health Management International Ltd of Singapore (48.95 per cent), Bumiputera group Maju Medik Sdn Bhd (38.42 per cent) and 12.36 per cent by doctors located all over Malaysia.

In the financial year ended June 30 2007, the Malacca hospital recorded RM98 million revenue, of which 30 per cent came from medical tourism.

"For the half-year ended December 31 2007, we have already exceeded RM50 million revenue. For the full year, we expect to hit RM100 million," Lim said.

"We are a leader in Malacca in terms of market share. We probably command 45 per cent of the private-hospital business here," he added.

The Mahkota Medical Centre in Malacca, which is big in medical tourism with 80 per cent share of the foreign-patient market in the state, treated 50,000 Indonesians last year.

"We plan to grow medical tourism further through accreditation from the Malaysian Society for Quality in Health (in August), and are preparing for the Joint Commission International (JCI) in two years for both the Malacca and Johor hospitals," said Lim.

JCI is a global leader in healthcare accreditation and, since 1999, has accredited more than 140 hospitals in 27 countries.

With the accreditations, the group hopes to penetrate new markets, including Bangladesh and Europe.

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rizalhakim

March 21st, 2008, 10:44 AM

RM120m Johor hospital to open in June

The Mahkota Medical Group will open a RM120 million hospital in Bandar Seri Alam, Johor, in June.

The 218-bed Regency Specialist Hospital expects to tap medical tourism in a big way. It projects contribution from domestic and foreign patients to be split equally within the next three years.

It will be the group's second hospital.

"The building is completed. The certificate of occupancy has been issued. We are waiting for the operating licence. The hospital should be operational mid-2008," Mahkota Medical Centre Sdn Bhd chief executive officer Francis Lim told Business Times.

The RM120 million investment includes land, building and equipment.

"We expect to break even in three years and be profitable from the fourth," Lim said.

"We are targeting patients, particularly from Singapore, and generally from Indonesia. We anticipate that we will have 50 per cent local patients and 50 per cent foreign in three years."

Lim said that Johor's potential for medical tourism is good as it has an international airport.

Health Management International Ltd of Singapore holds 48.95 per cent of the Mahkota Medical Group. Bumiputera-owned Maju Medik Sdn Bhd owns 38.42 per cent, while 12.36 per cent are held by doctors located all over Malaysia.

By New Straits Times

rizalhakim

March 25th, 2008, 06:40 AM

ijn - 23/3/08

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rizalhakim

March 25th, 2008, 06:41 AM

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rizalhakim

March 25th, 2008, 06:41 AM

tawakal hospital - 23/3/08

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rizalhakim

April 3rd, 2008, 04:26 AM

Mitrajaya gets Subang Medical job
Published: 2008/04/03

PROPERTY developer Mitrajaya Holdings Bhd will develop four levels of basement carpark and carry out its ancillary works for Subang Jaya Medical Centre Sdn Bhd (SJMC) for RM59.7 million. Its wholly-owned subsidiary Pembinaan Mitrajaya Sdn Bhd accepted a letter of award yesterday for the contract, it told Bursa Malaysia. The 17-month contract will start April 15.

rizalhakim

April 3rd, 2008, 04:43 AM

Mitrajaya subsidiary gets RM60 million construction job
By Sharmila Ganapathy
Email us your feedback at fd@bizedge.com

KUALA LUMPUR: Sime Darby Bhd subsidiary Subang Jaya Medical Centre Sdn Bhd (SJMC) has awarded construction and property player Mitrajaya Holdings Bhd a RM59.7 million construction job.

Mitrajaya said in an announcement to Bursa Malaysia Securities that its wholly owned subsidiary Pembinaan Mitrajaya Sdn Bhd had accepted a letter of award yesterday for the proposed construction of four levels of basement car park and related ancillary works for SJMC.

The contract spans 17 months, from April 15 this year to Sept 14, 2009 and is expected to contribute to future group earnings, Mitrajaya said.

rizalhakim

April 7th, 2008, 04:34 AM

JLand plans RM250m specialist hospital
By Vasantha Ganesan
Published: 2008/04/07

JOHOR Land Bhd (JLand) will build a 250-bed specialist hospital within Bandar Dato Onn, Johor, that will be managed by sister company KPJ Healthcare Bhd.

To be ready in 2010, the hospital is estimated to cost RM250 million to build and equip. It is positioned to offer the latest facility and be very patient-friendly.

"The hospital will be hassle-free. It is designed that way," JLand's managing director Shafiqul Hafiz told Business Times.

It will be leased to KPJ when ready in 2010.

Shafiqul said that JLand and a yet-to-be-finalised investor will finance the project.

Together with the hospital, a nursing college called Puteri Nursing College and a retirement home will be built in the township.

Both JLand and KPJ Healthcare are majority-owned by Johor Corp. JLand, incorporated in 1972, was listed on Bursa Malaysia in 1996.

Today, JLand has some 1,215ha for development in Johor. In collaboration with Johor Corp, it has delivered over 24,000 residential and 1,300 commercial units.

JLand is also broadening its revenue base with a barter trade terminal project in Sabah.

It is buying 51 per cent of Windsor Trade Holdings Sdn Bhd (WTH), which has an 80 per cent subsidiary, Windsor Trade Sdn Bhd. Windsor Trade has been granted a 30-year concession to operate Sandakan Integrated Trade Exchange Terminal.

"The acquisition will be completed in the second quarter of 2008. It will start to contribute (to the group) in early 2011," he said.

WTH will develop an integrated barter trade terminal complete with various facilities on a 13.6ha area at Batu Sapi, Sandakan. The terminal will cater to traders from Asean countries.

The development cost of the terminal is estimated at RM315 million including land, pre-development cost, construction of infrastructure and buildings and equipment.

rizalhakim

April 7th, 2008, 05:24 AM

ijn

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rizalhakim

April 7th, 2008, 05:25 AM

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rizalhakim

April 7th, 2008, 05:26 AM

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rizalhakim

April 7th, 2008, 05:44 AM

tawakal hospital

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pen

April 7th, 2008, 08:32 AM

NEW BUKIT MERTAJAM SPECIALIST HOSPITAL

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nazrey

April 7th, 2008, 04:15 PM

JLand plans RM250m specialist hospital
By Vasantha Ganesan Published: 2008/04/07
BusnesTimes

JOHOR Land Bhd (JLand) will build a 250-bed specialist hospital within Bandar Dato Onn, Johor, that will be managed by sister company KPJ Healthcare Bhd.

To be ready in 2010, the hospital is estimated to cost RM250 million to build and equip. It is positioned to offer the latest facility and be very patient-friendly.

"The hospital will be hassle-free. It is designed that way," JLand's managing director Shafiqul Hafiz told Business Times.

It will be leased to KPJ when ready in 2010.

Shafiqul said that JLand and a yet-to-be-finalised investor will finance the project.

Together with the hospital, a nursing college called Puteri Nursing College and a retirement home will be built in the township.

Both JLand and KPJ Healthcare are majority-owned by Johor Corp. JLand, incorporated in 1972, was listed on Bursa Malaysia in 1996.

Today, JLand has some 1,215ha for development in Johor. In collaboration with Johor Corp, it has delivered over 24,000 residential and 1,300 commercial units.

JLand is also broadening its revenue base with a barter trade terminal project in Sabah.

It is buying 51 per cent of Windsor Trade Holdings Sdn Bhd (WTH), which has an 80 per cent subsidiary, Windsor Trade Sdn Bhd. Windsor Trade has been granted a 30-year concession to operate Sandakan Integrated Trade Exchange Terminal.

"The acquisition will be completed in the second quarter of 2008. It will start to contribute (to the group) in early 2011," he said.

WTH will develop an integrated barter trade terminal complete with various facilities on a 13.6ha area at Batu Sapi, Sandakan. The terminal will cater to traders from Asean countries.

The development cost of the terminal is estimated at RM315 million including land, pre-development cost, construction of infrastructure and buildings and equipment.

rizalhakim

April 8th, 2008, 04:51 AM

St Jude Medical to build RM100mil medical plant in Penang
By DAVID TAN

PENANG: World-renowned cardiovascular medical devices manufacturer St Jude Medical Inc from the US is planning to invest in Penang.

Sources said the group planned to invest an initial RM100mil to set up Asia’s first pacemaker manufacturing facility.

StarBiz learnt that St Jude Medical sent a team to Penang in the third quarter of 2007 to negotiate with the state government, then led by former chief minister Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon.

St Jude Medical would most probably establish its facility on the 10-acre site currently occupied by Inventec Electronics, the Taiwanese manufacturer of consumer electronic products, in the Bayan Lepas Industrial Estate. Inventec is in the process of being relocated.

Sources said St Jude Medical was in the advanced stages of negotiation with Inventec and the state government.

“The St Jude Medical manufacturing facility would create about 500 high-end job opportunities,” the sources said.

It is learnt that the group had earlier attempted to set up a similar manufacturing plant in China but it did not work out.

Listed on the New York Stock Exchange, the Minnesota-based group also manufactures implantable cardioverter defibrillators, cardiac resynchronisation therapy devices, electrophysiology catheters, mapping and visualisation systems, vascular closure devices, heart valve replacement and repair products neurostimulation devices.

The company has more than 20 principal operations and manufacturing facilities worldwide, with products sold in more than 100 countries.

St Jude Medical, with net sales of US$3.8bil in 2007, employs about 12,000 staff worldwide.

Another US group that is making its way to Penang is Honeywell Aerospace.

StarBiz last month reported that the company was shifting a substantial portion of its activities to the Prai Industrial Estate this year.

Recently, Samsung Electronics Co was also said to be keen on setting up a RM3.5bil plant to manufacture memory chips in Batu Kawan, Seberang Prai.

rizalhakim

April 8th, 2008, 05:04 AM

KYM forms consortium to bid for Malacca health administration centre
By Yong Yen Nie
Email us your feedback at fd@bizedge.com

KUALA LUMPUR: KYM Holdings Bhd has formed a consortium with Konsortium YKIP Bersatu Sdn Bhd (KYKIP) and Idaman Ikhlas Sdn Bhd (IISB) for the purpose of submitting a proposal to the Ministry of Health (MOH) on the design and building of a health administration centre in Malacca.

In an announcement to Bursa yesterday, KYM said the proposal included the task of undertaking the design and building of the health administration centre, comprising the state health administration centre, a nursing institute and a public health laboratory. It didn't disclose the cost of constructing the heath administration centre.

The company said in the event that the proposal was accepted by the MOH, the proportion of all profits derived by the project that KYM, KYKIP and IISB would receive would be 51%, 30% and 19% respectively.

KYM said the formation of the consortium would not affect its share capital, earning per share, net tangible assets per share nor its substantial shareholders’ shareholding for fiscal year ending January 31, 2009.

However, the company expected the project to contribute positively to its future earnings if the proposal were accepted by the MOH.

achkeen10

April 8th, 2008, 04:25 PM

nazrey

April 22nd, 2008, 03:52 PM

Cameron Highlands Hospital
By: Eddie PhotoVideo Professional PhotoVideographer of fotopages.com
Intro

http://img39.picoodle.com/img/img39/6/10/15/f_jrpym_fde5825.jpg

by flyswede

http://img26.picoodle.com/img/img26/4/4/22/f_24068680138m_2f275fe.jpg

rizalhakim

April 29th, 2008, 10:32 AM

NMPSB, Columbia Asia meterai perjanjian beli tanah

KUALA LUMPUR 27 April - UEM Land Berhad mengumumkan anak syarikatnya Nusajaya Medical Park Sdn. Bhd. (NMPSB) telah memeterai perjanjian pembelian tanah bernilai RM4.8 juta dengan Columbia Asia Sdn. Bhd.

UEM dalam kenyataan di sini berkata, perjanjian itu akan membolehkan Columbia Asia yang merupakan syarikat penyedia kemudahan kesihatan, membeli tanah seluas 1.08 hektar di Nusajaya daripada NMPSB.

Perjanjian tersebut ditandatangani oleh Pengarah Urusan UEM Land, Wan Abdullah Wan Ibrahim dan Pengerusi Columbia Asia Group of Companies, Rick Evans pertengahan bulan ini.

Pembelian tanah tersebut bertujuan untuk membangunkan hospital yang dilengkapi dengan 70 katil di Nusajaya, yang telah dijenamakan sebagai 'Afiat Healthpark', kata kenyataan itu.

"Apabila siap pada tahun 2010, hospital seluas 70,000 kaki persegi itu akan dilengkapi makmal dan perkhidmatan diagnostik, rawatan pesakit luar dan dalam, serta kemudahan lain," katanya.

nazrey

May 1st, 2008, 08:10 AM

taken by me (2604/2008)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v608/nazrey/Putrajaya/DSC00686.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v608/nazrey/Putrajaya/DSC00687.jpg

nazrey

May 4th, 2008, 07:27 AM

Prince Court Medical Centre
by Mohsen HEJRATi

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2255/2461945752_2ee4a1a9a8_b.jpg

rizalhakim

May 6th, 2008, 07:59 AM

Private hospital for Iskandar Malaysia

JOHOR BARU: A private hospital will be built at Afiat Healthpark in Nusajaya, which is within Iskandar Malaysia.

The 70-bed hospital is expected to begin operations in 2010.

It will be equipped with laboratory and diagnostic services, outpatient and inpatient services, and ample parking facilities.

The project is a joint venture between Nusajaya Medical Park (NMPSB) – a subsidiary of UEM Land – and Columbia Asia.

A sale and purchase agreement was signed on April 14 between UEM Land managing director Wan Abdullah Wan Ibrahim and Columbia Asia Group of Companies chairman Rick Evans.

http://thestar.com.my/archives/2008/5/6/southneast/ms_pg04evans.jpg
Pact sealed: Wan Abdullah (left) exchanging documents with Evans after signing the sale and purchase agreement in Johor Baru recently.

Under the terms, Columbia Asia shall purchase more than 1ha from NMPSB for a total consideration if RM4.818mil.

Wan Abdullah said the project was to be carried out in view of the tremendous potential and growth prospects of Iskandar Malaysia (formerly known as Iskandar Development Region).

“Afiat Healthpark is intended to meet the under-served healthcare needs of the community in Nusajaya.

“We are confident that the hospital will cater to demand for better healthcare services and facilities,” he said.

The hospital will be part of the first phase of Afiat Healthpark, which will include a private specialist clinic and health-screening centre.

The second phase will comprise a dialysis and rehabilitation centre, a nursing college and a traditional and complementary medicine academy.

Afiat Healthpark is located on the northern part of Nusajaya, which houses Johor's new administrative centre.

Other developments in the area are Puteri Harbour (a waterfront precinct), an education city, an international destination resort with theme parks, and residential and commercial blocks.

rizalhakim

May 15th, 2008, 04:09 AM

KT hospital to have annexes costing RM185m

KUALA TERENGGANU: Two complexes will be constructed as annexes to Sultanah Nur Zahirah Hospital (HSNZ) to address the perennial issue of congested wards.

State Health, Unity and Consumer Affairs Committee chairman Dr A. Rahman Mokthar said the complexes would reduce overcrowding at the main building when completed by the end of August.

He said the complexes costing RM185mil would house the maternity and neuroscience departments.

“We are in the process of awarding tenders for the complexes and this will take about three months,” he said here on Monday.

Dr A. Rahman said that HSNZ could accommodate only 821 patients at a time and required additional facilities to handle the increasing number of cases.

He said the maternity section was designed to have seven floors with 324 beds while the four-storey neuroscience department would have 150 beds.

In a related development, Dr A. Rahman said the state was awaiting the delivery of 18 new for distribution to all hospitals and clinics in the state.

“This is to enhance the ambulance service and expand coverage in rural areas,” he said.

He added that HSNZ was acquiring a CT scan machine for use by specialists.

He noted that the current machine at the hospital had malfunctioned and patients were referred to a private hospital here for scanning, and this was cumbersome.

rizalhakim

May 21st, 2008, 11:13 AM

pantai hospital

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nazrey

May 26th, 2008, 06:50 AM

RM200mil nursing college to take shape in Bandar Sri Sendayan
Monday May 26, 2008
By SHANNEN WONG
TheStar

PROPERTY developer BSS Development Sdn Bhd, a subsidiary of Matrix Concepts Holdings Bhd, expects anchor investor International University College of Nursing (IUCN) to boost the economic development in its new township, Bandar Sri Sendayan in Seremban.

Today, state government agency Menteri Besar Inc of Negeri Sembilan will sign a deal to sell 200 acres in Bandar Sri Sendayan to Run Education Sdn Bhd, the owner and manager of IUCN.

Run Education will invest about RM200mil to build IUCN, Malaysia's first international nursing school.

BSS, in a joint venture with Menteri Besar Inc of Negeri Sembilan, is developing the 5,235-acre Bandar Sri Sendayan, which has a gross development value of RM3bil.

“We believe that the new IUCN campus will accelerate the growth of Bandar Sri Sendayan as well as stir up the local economic activities in Seremban,” Menteri Besar Inc of Negeri Sembilan chief executive officer Datuk Mohd Hasiah Mohd told StarBiz.

He said Menteri Besar Inc is confident of attracting students from neighbouring countries, as IUCN would have a competitive advantage in terms of location, being only 20km from the KL International Airport.

IUCN had a target of 60:40 ratio between international and local students, he added.

BSS managing director Datuk Lee Tian Hock said IUCN expected the first intake of 5,000 students in September next year and hoped to accommodate 20,000 students by 2011.

“We hope IUCN would attract foreign and local students to pursue nursing qualifications in Seremban as the cost of living is relatively lower than the Kuala Lumpur city centre,” he said.

Located in the middle of Bandar Sri Sendayan, the IUCN campus would be developed in two phases and construction was scheduled to start next month, said Lee.

According to him, Bandar Sri Sendayan is expected to have a population of 60,000 when it is fully developed in 15 years.

Meanwhile, BSS and the Negri Sembilan state government agency are currently in talks with a foreign party to sell 1,000 acres for over US$1bil for an integrated tourism-related project.

The deal was expected to be finalised next month, said Mohd Hasiah.

rizalhakim

May 30th, 2008, 05:11 AM

IJN College to offer new courses
By : Annie Freeda Cruez

KUALA LUMPUR: IJN College will soon provide specialised courses for cardio-thoracic medical care providers and those working in the Intensive Care and Coronary Care Units.

The courses, ranging from cardiovascular and thoracic sciences, mentoring and assessing, to coronary critical care nursing (CCCN) will be introduced in stages this year.

The National Heart Institute (IJN) has also designed its own clinical programme in four critical areas -- profusion technology, cardiovascular technology/ultrasonography, cardiovascular imaging and peri-operative nursing.

IJN College is the only college in the country offering these programmes, which have been approved by the Malaysian Qualification Agency.

IJN College general manager Dr Sharifah Salwiyah Salim said two of the courses are offered in collaboration with institutions of higher learning abroad.

The 18-month diploma programme in cardiovascular and thoracic sciences is jointly offered by IJN College and Liverpool John Moores University (LJMU) in Britain, while the six-month professional certificate in CCCN is offered with the University of South Australia.

Dr Sharifah said 20 IJN nurses, dieticians, perfusionists, and medical laboratory technologists started the 18-month programme in February last year.

The next intake in January will be open to those working in public and private hospitals.

Potential participants for the specialised programme include pharmacists, physiotherapists, healthcare educators and professionals.

Dr Sharifah said the CCCN programme, scheduled to start next month, provides specialised training in caring for critically-ill cardiac patients. The mentoring and assessing module is for health professionals.

In IJN's one-year intensive programme starting in July, participants will receive practical training during the week and attend lectures on weekends.

IJN College can accommodate about 200 professionals for these programmes.

Those interested in these courses, can call 03-26178279 or 26178285.

You can also e-mail college@ijn.com.my or salwiyah@ijn.com.my.

nazrey

June 7th, 2008, 07:05 AM

KL General Hospital
by ariffjrs

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3019/2553228822_8d9068d87d_b.jpg

rizalhakim

June 9th, 2008, 08:44 AM

Facelift for hospital
By LIM CHIA YING

An old charity hospital has been given a new lease of life.

DATUK Dr Nellie Tan may be 60 but she’s brimming with ideas, and her excellent fundraising skills have helped to save the Negri Sembilan Chinese Maternity Medical Centre (NSCMH) from debt.

When it was founded, the NSCMH was known as the Negri Sembilan Chinese Maternity Hospital in 1932. It started with one block offering maternity service, and has grown to three blocks providing a host of medical treatments and services.

The NSCMH is one of a few remaining charity hospitals in the country that has managed to remain relevant to today’s medical needs, and weathered the storm when certain quarters wanted to demolish the place.

At one time, it almost succumbed to circumstances when it ran at an accumulated deficit of RM6mil. The ambulance was old and shaky, and the building looked run down.

Four other charity Chinese maternity hospitals in the country – in Penang, Klang, Ipoh and Kuala Lumpur – all ceased operating.

When Tan took over the post of hospital president in November 2006, she also “inherited” the huge debt.

“Only when I took over, did I realise the extent of the task ahead,” says Tan. “Staff morale was low and public impression was not favourable. The NSCMH faced six years of ‘drought’ due to the emergence of two brand new, modern hospitals in the state.

“Bed occupancy went down by 20%. We used to have 100% bed occupancy when this hospital was the only one in the state,” she adds.

http://thestar.com.my/archives/2008/6/9/lifeliving/f_pg10nellie.jpg
Datuk Dr Nellie Tan with an artist’s impression of the new facade of the NSCMH.

“Since the hospital had served the poor and people of all races for close to eight decades, I had to make sure that it didn’t close shop. It would have been a real shame if it did.”

Sited on a hilltop, the hospital comprises three separate whitewashed blocks. Its breezy corridors, spanking clean floors and surrounding greenery make the place almost “inviting”, unlike the cold clinical feeling you get at most hospitals.

The hospital is set to undergo major renovations and extensions as part of the big plan to upgrade its image.

Tan managed to raise the needed funds within a short span of time and is hopeful that her bid to re-develop the hospital will see the light of day.

“I’ve allotted an initial sum of RM20mil to help the hospital be self-reliant. From that total, RM15mil will be used to upgrade the place while the rest will be for new equipment,” she explains.

So far, RM14.3mil has been raised through public donations and fund-raising campaigns.

“Datuk Nellie is keen for the hospital to have a new look, and this will be seen once the new Block B (now the main hospital building) is up,” says hospital supervisor K. Kanahendran.

“It’ll be a one-stop centre for all medical treatments so that patients and old folks need not have to walk from one block to the other to get their prescriptions or see a doctor.”

The current Block A (where the lab and pharmacy are located) will be converted into a nursing academy while Block C (which presently houses the specialists) will be turned into a nursing hostel.

She formed the NSCMH Youth Support Group to encourage young people to be involved in health programmes and receive free home-nursing training at the hospital. Singer Suki, winner of the One in A Million show, was recently appointed NSCMH’s goodwill ambassador.

One of Tan’s most notable efforts includes securing the sole franchise monopoly rights in Negri Sembilan to run the Documentation-based-Care (DBC) clinic with technology from Finland to treat neck, spine, and shoulder ailments.

Kanahendran says the hospital prides itself in handling 30 to 40 deliveries per month, adding that some babies who were previously delivered at the hospital many years ago have returned to serve.

The charges for outpatient treatment are modest while children with mental and physical impairment are given free outpatient treatment.

“Because of NSCMH’s non-profit status, all donations are tax-exempted. We are still scouring for an ambulance to replace the old one,” she says.

For donations and enquiries, call 06-762 2104 / 06-762 2511.

rizalhakim

June 12th, 2008, 04:30 AM

Prince Court offers medical care in a five-star setting
Published: 2008/06/12

http://www.btimes.com.my/Current_News/BTIMES/Industries/BizFocus/iprince.xml/Article/Current_News/BTIMES/Images/btgraph8/rowley.jpg

Vasantha Ganesan finds out what is it that makes Prince Court Medical Centre stand out and its expansion plans.

IF IMITATION is the best form of flattery, the chief of Kuala Lumpur's Prince Court Medical Centre, is probably blushing.

[b]The hospital is only eight months old, not fully operational or officially launched, but requests are already coming in to replicate its model abroad.

Prince Court, which boasts services that one would find in a five-star hotel, has also started treating quite a number of medical tourists from as far as Australia, New Zealand and the UK.

Located on Jalan Kia Peng, the hospital did a soft-opening in October 2007 and it will only be fully operational next month.[b]

Prince Court is owned by state-owned oil company Petroliam Nasional Bhd (Petronas) and managed by Vamed Healthcare Services Sdn Bhd and its partner the Medical University of Vienna International Hospital Operations GmbH.

"We have had a hospital in the Middle East which wants to replicate this model. We have had Thais, Cambodians and Mogolians come to see our facility," chief executive officer Stuart D. Rowley said.

Rowley said that the hospital which had planned to establish itself in Malaysia, then regionally before being recognised globally, was pleasantly surprised to see its current level of foreign patients touch 30 per cent.

A total of 710 inpatients and 8,000 outpatients have thus far, sought treatment at the hospital.

Based on the response so far, Rowley may achieve his goal to make the hospital "the best in Asia" within the next five years sooner than anticipated.

Prince Court is named so, given its location where historically, a number of royalty lived including the current monarch.

Built at a substantial cost, including land and equipment, the hospital expects to be operationally profitable by the end of the second year and achieve net profit in eight years.

"By the end of year two, our cash flow will be positive," Rowley said.

"By July 1 2008, we will be fully operational and all our services will be offered from then," he said, adding that it has 53 clinics and 60 doctors/specialists.

"We provide every possible clinical specialty with the exception of in-patient psychiatry," he said.

The hospital opened its doors last October operating 12 beds. Today, it has 48 beds and all 300 beds will be available in October or November this year.

It will also have 800 nurses by then, up from 200 today.

The medical centre, which has six floors, and another three floors of parking space, measure some one million sq ft.

Its pull factors include it being the only private hospital offering a surgical robot for treatment in men's health, and later for gynaecology and cardiac surgery.

Its 10 operating theatres are said to be among the cleanest in the world with Laminar Flow ventilation which produces almost particle-free air at the operating table, thereby reducing significantly the risk of infection.

The hospital's emphasis on infection control is so stringent that it has 3,730 hand basins and 3,900 hands-free hygiene automatic dispensers and a full-time professor of microbiology heading the infection control programme.

Rowley said that the hospital will soon have the country's first bladeless excimer/ laser for Lasik (eye) surgery.

Other services in the hospital include valet parking, in-room check-in and check-out, 24-hour ala-carte dining service - basically anything one would find in a five-star hotel.

Its suites, which go for around RM1,000 a night, come with a separate bedroom for the family, two televisions, and two bathrooms, including toiletries.

rizalhakim

June 16th, 2008, 09:00 AM

International university for nursing in Sedayan

http://www.nst.com.my/Streets/Monday/Stories/2268376/insidepix1
Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan (third from left) being briefed by International University College of Nursing executive chairman Summugam Ramasamy after the singing of the sale and purchase agreement in Bandar Sri Sedayan, Seremban, recently. At right is Run Education director Tunku Nadzaruddin Tuanku Ja’afar.

SEREMBAN: Bandar Seri Sendayan is set to house the first international university dedicated to nursing education following the signing of a sale and purchase (S&P) agreement recently.

The S&P was signed between Menteri Besar Incorporated (MBI) and the International University College of Nursing (IUCN) for a 80ha plot for the construction of the college, which will be the first and one of its kind in the world.

The S&P was signed by Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan and state Financial Officer Datuk Abdul Radzak Abdul Rahman, while the IUCN was represented by its executive chairman, Summugam Ramasamy, and Run Education director Tunku Nadzaruddin Tuanku Ja'afar.

IUCN is wholly-owned and managed by Run Education Sdn Bhd.

"I am really gratified with IUCN for building their campus here as it promises much benefit for the people in the state.

"The college will help create more employment benefits and a more buoyant economy for the state and country," said Mohamad.

He said the development of projects like IUCN would make Sendayan, Mantin and Nilai the new education hub in the area.

IUCN will be built in two phases. Phase one will see the construction of the campus, the amenities and hostels.

It is expected to be ready in July next year.

"This highly demanding profession sees a world shortage and IUCN will contribute towards increasing the number of nurses, locally and internationally.

"According to the World Health Organisation, the ideal ratio of nurses and patients in this country is 1:200.

"However, in Malaysia, it is currently 1:645.

"At least 130,000 nurses must be trained by 2020 to meet the demands."

Bandar Seri Sendayan is a 2,000ha township comprising residential, commercial, institutional and industrial properties all valued at about RM3 billion.

It is dubbed the Southern Growth Corridor of the Greater Klang Valley Conurbation.

Mohamad said Bandar Seri Sendayan was set to enhance the landscape of Negri Sembilan as the area would be transformed into a comprehensive township project by MBI and BSS Development Sdn Bhd.

It will take 15 years to complete the project.

MBI will work closely with BSS Development to ensure all projects run smoothly and meet the objectives of the Negri Sembilan government to deliver a project that enhances the viability and sustainability of the state.

"Bandar Seri Sendayan will be modelled as the most modern development in the state, where the density is low and covered with lush greenery and verdant parks."

The comprehensive development will also boast its own town centre, recreational park, golf course, nature reserve, a landscaped lake, library and many institutional areas.

The new township also opens up great investment opportunities for local and foreign investors.

IUCN will invest RM200 million on the campus and facilities. Construction of the campus is planned to start soon and the college is targeting 5,000 students when it opens for registration in September next year.

The faculty members will be from the international institutions, including Australia, India, Canada, Indonesia and China.

liping_t

June 16th, 2008, 04:53 PM

I wish people don't have the urge to slip in the word 'International' into University names....

rizalhakim

June 19th, 2008, 04:59 AM

rizalhakim

June 26th, 2008, 09:21 AM

Amirsham: Five-star medical centre is for all
by Sharon Tan
Email us your feedback at fd@bizedge.com

KUALA LUMPUR: The Prince Court Medical Centre (PCMC), a luxury facility in the city, was established by Petronas after the national oil company had weighed its commercial returns and the access it provided Malaysians to world-class health services.

Explaining the need for the centre that had a soft launch last October, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Tan Sri Amirsham A Aziz said it was part of Petronas’ corporate social responsibility towards the people and was in line with the government’s efforts to promote health tourism.

Petronas has spent RM544 million on its construction to date, and its annual management cost was estimated at RM11.5 million.

Amirsham told parliament during the question-and-answer session that PCMC has tied up with the Medical University of Vienna (MUV), one of the biggest medical research universities in Europe.

rizalhakim

June 27th, 2008, 05:54 AM

Hospital Pakar Seremban adakan karnival

PORT DICKSON 26 Jun - Dalam usaha mendekati dan menyampaikan pelbagai maklumat tentang kesihatan kepada orang ramai, Hospital Pakar Seremban (SSH) mengadakan program Karnival Bersama Penduduk Port Dickson di sini hari ini.

Menurut Pengerusi SSH, Amiruddin Abdul Satar, program tahunan itu bertujuan memberi penerangan tentang kepentingan penjagaan kesihatan kepada penduduk setempat.

"Pelbagai acara membabitkan pengisian kesihatan diadakan dengan tujuan untuk menghebahkan pelbagai maklumat berkaitan kepada penduduk setempat," katanya ketika merasmikan Karnival tersebut yang berlangsung di Pejabat Daerah Tanah Port Dickson di sini.

Menurut beliau, SSH senantiasa berusaha mencari jalan untuk mengadakan lebih banyak program seperti itu untuk orang ramai pada masa akan datang.

"Program hari ini turut mendapat kerjasama daripada jabatan dan agensi kerajaan di samping syarikat swasta yang sama-sama menyalurkan maklumat berkaitan kesihatan.

"Pada masa depan kami berharap lebih banyak yang akan terbabit dalam program seperti ini demi kepentingan orang ramai," katanya.

Tambah Amiruddin, mesej lain yang cuba disampaikan melalui program seperti itu adalah mengajak orang ramai supaya mendekati hospital sepanjang masa terutama mendapatkan pelbagai maklumat tentang kesihatan.

"SSH berusaha menepis pandangan orang ramai bahawa hospital hanya layak didekati ketika sakit saja sedangkan mereka boleh mengunjungi kami untuk mendapatkan maklumat tentang kesihatan termasuk penyakit.

"Ia yang secara tidak langsung mampu memberi kefahaman tentang penjagaan kesihatan dan cara mengelakkannya pada peringkat awal," ujarnya.

Menurut salah seorang pengunjung, Mustapa Mohd Yusuf, 40, beliau tidak mahu melepaskan peluang mengunjungi karnival tersebut untuk mendapatkan pelbagai maklumat tentang kesihatan.

"Pelbagai maklumat boleh didapati melalui pameran yang diadakan dan ia banyak faedahnya. Selain itu dengan peluang yang ada, saya juga datang dengan tujuan untuk menderma darah," katanya.

Seorang lagi pengunjung, Norhazila Mohd Sarpan, 30, itu adalah kali pertama beliau berkunjung ke karnival seperti itu.

"Sangat menarik kerana pelbagai acara diadakan untuk orang-orang di Port Dickson ini daripada pameran, acara sukan sehingga forum perdana,'' katanya.

rizalhakim

June 28th, 2008, 04:43 AM

Non-profit hospital for Sandakan

SANDAKAN: Sabahans, particularly those living here, can soon enjoy affordable private healthcare facilities and services when the new Fook Kuin Medical Centre at Jalan Utara is operational by January 2011.

The centre to be built on a 12ha site at a cost of RM105mil will be the first non-profit private hospital in east Malaysia.

Once completed it will have 276 beds including 10 day care beds and six ICU beds, 28 bassinets and 34 dialysis machines, 28 consultation suites and eight labour rooms, operation theatres and CT scanners.

Health Minister Datuk Liow Tiong Lai, who was represented by state Health Department director Dr Marzukhi Mohd Isa at the groundbreaking ceremony, said that his ministry received 49 applications throughout the country in the past two years for the establishment of private hospitals and two were from Sabah including Fook Kuin Medical Centre.

Since the implementation of the Private Healthcare Facilities and Services Act 1998 and its regulations in 2006, the Health Ministry has licensed 247 private healthcare facilities and hospitals in the country of which nine are located in Sabah, said Liow.

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Artist’s impression: A model of the new Fook Kuin Medical Centre that will begin construction soon.

To date, 19 private hospitals had been accredited by the Malaysian Society of Quality in Health (MSQH) and 21 more were awaiting survey or the results of surveys, he said.

The minister noted that among the problems in the applications to establish new private hospitals were the tendency of applicants to use renovated shoplots and the failure to engage medical planners to design the private hospitals.

The Ministry also found that many applicants were unable to provide adequate nursing staff or skilled manpower in specific disciplines such as dialysis, critical care and anaesthesia.

“There are private hospitals that are not able to train their own nursing staff and resort to pinching them from other public and private hospitals,” he said.

Meanwhile, in her welcoming speech, Ramona Lai, Managing Director of LFK Group, which owns Fook Kuin Medical Centre, said it was the dream of her late father Datuk Lai Fook Kim, a timber tycoon, to build the hospital.

rizalhakim

July 2nd, 2008, 04:23 AM

IGB, Insas sell Gleneagles stakes
Published: 2008/07/02

IGB says the exercise is to dispose of non-strategic investments, while for Insas the sale is to realise its investment at a reasonable valuation

IGB Corp Bhd and Insas Bhd are selling their combined 50 per cent stake in Gleneagles Hospital (Kuala Lumpur) Sdn Bhd to Pantai Irama Ventures Sdn Bhd for RM171.6 million.

Pantai Irama is jointly owned by Khazanah Nasional Bhd and Singapore healthcare firm Parkway Holdings Ltd. Pantai Irama also holds 100 per cent of Pantai Holdings Bhd, a hospital operator.

IGB is selling its 30 per cent stake in Gleneagles Kuala Lumpur while Insas is selling another 20 per cent.

The hospital, located on Jalan Ampang, has 330 beds and over 110 consultant specialists.

The sale is in line with a plan to dispose of all non-strategic investments and focus on its main core businesses, IGB said in a statement to Bursa Malaysia.

IGB will use the cash proceeds, amounting to RM102.97 million, for working capital and future investment opportunities.

In a separate statement, property developer Insas said it is selling its 20 per cent stake in Gleneagles Kuala Lumpur for RM68.6 million.

The company said the sale represents a good opportunity for it to realise its investment at a reasonable valuation.

Insas will use the proceeds for working capital and future investment opportunities.

Gleneagles Kuala Lumpur also has Permodalan Nasional Bhd as a shareholder.

rizalhakim

July 2nd, 2008, 05:03 AM

Pantai Irama buying 50% of Gleneagles for RM171mil

PETALING JAYA: Pantai Irama Ventures Sdn Bhd, a joint venture between Khazanah Nasional Bhd and Singapore’s Parkway Holdings Ltd, has proposed to acquire 50% of Gleneagles Hospital (Kuala Lumpur) Sdn Bhd for RM171.63mil.

Insas Bhd told Bursa Malaysia yesterday the company and Tan & Tan Developments Bhd had signed a conditional sales and purchase agreement with Pantai Irama to dispose of their combined 50% stake in Gleneagles, which operates a chain of hospitals.

Under the agreement, Insas would dispose of its 20% stake in Gleneagles for RM68.65mil cash. The stake comprises 4.22 million RM1 shares and 5.1 million redeemable preference shares (RPS) of five sen each.

Insas said Tan & Tan would also dispose of its 6.33 million RM1 shares and 7.65 million RPS, representing 30% equity interest in Gleneagles, to Pantai Irama.

“The purchase consideration for the Gleneagles shares is RM171.63mil which shall be payable in cash and subject to revision based on the debt and cash position of Gleneagles and its subsidiaries as at the completion date,” it said.

Insas said the proposed disposal represented a good opportunity for it to realise its investment in Gleneagles at a reasonable valuation and the cash proceeds of RM68.65mil would be used for its working capital and future investment opportunities.

“Insas’ investment in the Gleneagles shares was made between 1993 and 1996. The carrying value of the Gleneagles shares in Insas’ audited accounts as at June 30, 2007 was RM15.69mil,” Insas added.

Insas also said it was expected to realise a one-time gain on disposal of RM55.36mil and consequently, the net assets per share would improve from RM1.07 to RM1.16.

Gleneagles was incorporated on May 28, 1990. Its present authorised share capital is RM50mil comprising of 47.5 million shares and 50 million RPS, of which 21.12 million shares and 25.5 million RPS have been issued and fully paid-up.

Khazanah owns 51% of Pantai Irama while Parkway’s unit Swiss Zone Sdn Bhd holds 49%. Pantai Irama was the special purpose vehicle used to take control of the Pantai Hospital group that manages and has equity stakes in eight hospitals.

In April, Khazanah bought an additional 18.33% stake in Parkway for an estimated S$581.51mil cash (RM1.35bil) which increased its total stake to 20.79% or 160.34 million shares.

nazrey

July 19th, 2008, 07:07 AM

Columbia Asia, Bintulu, Sarawak

Private Healthcare Hospital
by carzae

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nazrey

July 19th, 2008, 11:14 AM

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MARC ASSIGNS AAA(s)ID RATING TO SARAWAK SPECIALIST HOSPITAL & MEDICAL CENTRE SDN BHD’S ISTISNA’ SERIAL BONDS OF UP TO RM425 MILLION

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20 Sep 2004 - MARC has assigned a rating of AAA(s)ID (AAA Support, Islamic Debt) to Sarawak Specialist Hospital & Medical Centre Sdn Bhd’s (SSHMC) Istisna’ Serial Bonds (Bonds). The rating reflects the AAA rating of the Sarawak State Government as the principal and profit payments of the Bonds will be satisfied via proceeds of share subscription payments as evidenced by the back-to-back Redeemable Preference Share Subscription Agreements between the State Financial Secretary Incorporated (SFS Inc.) and SSHMC Management and Holdings Sdn Bhd (SSHMC Holdings), and SSHMC Holdings and the Issuer, SSHMC. SFS Inc. is a statutory corporation established under the State Financial Secretary (Incorporated) Ordinance under the laws of Sarawak and controlled by the State.

SSHMC was incorporated in July 2001 to facilitate the construction of Sarawak International Medical Centre (SIMC), a project conceived by the State Government of Sarawak. SSHMC is a wholly-owned subsidiary of SSHMC Holdings which in turn is wholly-owned by SFS Inc. SSHMC’s current paid-up capital is RM50.5 million.

Proceeds from the proposed financing exercise will be mainly utilized to finance the construction of SIMC and its related cost; and to finance the purchase of medical and non-medical equipments. The development of this phase will include three- storey hospital podium complex with an attached eight-storey inpatient accommodation building, a section of the main access road from Kota Samarahan Expressway and a portion of the inner ring road plus linkage to UNIMAS.

The proposed SIMC, covering an area of approximately 100 acres, is located at Kota Samarahan and will have an easy access to Kuching City and Kuching International Airport. In addition, Technology Park which is situated to the north and UNIMAS to the south of SIMC, will help enhance SIMC’s image as a potentially dynamic medical hub in line with its vision to become a medical centre of excellence for the people of Sarawak and the surrounding countries.

The proposed hospital is designed to meet the demands of a highly specialized modern health care facility. The selection of medical equipment and information technology application will be driven by the latest technology available.

Under the proposed Istisna’ Bonds, SSHMC will issue eight tranches of Primary Bonds with a total value of up to RM425 million to raise net proceeds of approximately RM380 million. The issuance of the Bonds will take place following the execution of the Share Subscription Agreements, of which payments will be used exclusively to satisfy the principal and profit payments of the Bonds. The payments for the share subscription are scheduled so as to correspond to the scheduled payments of the Bonds in terms of amount and timing. Each installment payment is credited into the Finance Service Reserve Account (FSRA), an account jointly managed by SSHMC and the Facility Agent for the purpose of the Bonds repayment, one month before each scheduled payment of the Bonds which occurs semiannually. With the terms and conditions provided in the Agreements, credit risk and liquidity risk of the Bonds are essentially mitigated.

Given the importance of the project to the state, MARC believes that construction or completion risk is significantly mitigated. The risk is moderated further by the fact that SSHMC is entitled to LAD at the rate of RM50,000 per day, which can be deducted from any monies due to the Contractor as well as recovered from the Performance Bonds.

Sarawak International Medical Centre (SIMC), Kuching
by George Fricker

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Medical centre ready next year
Friday November 23, 2007
TheStar

KUCHING: The Sarawak International Medical Centre (SIMC) is expected to be ready by the middle of next year, Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri Dr George Chan told the Sarawak State Assembly yesterday.

He said the project, which commenced in July 2003, initially had a contractual completion period of 36 months.

“However, due to inclement weather, shortage of critical construction materials, revision of design to meet new requirements under the Private Health Care Facilities and Services Act and delay on the part of the civil works contractor and sub-contractors, the new completion date is now expected to be in the middle of 2008,” he told Chong Chieng Jen (DAP – Kota Sentosa).

He said the contract sum for the project’s building works, design and consultancy fees was RM288.56mil, with an additional 36.3mil euros (RM180.4mil) for specialist medical and IT equipment.

Assistant Minister of Land Development Naroden Majais told the House that the state government had yet to determine the viability of cultivating jatropha and bamboo on a commercial scale.

“There is no policy or plan for planting the two trees or for developing an industry out of these crops,” he said in reply to Peter Nansian (BN – Tasik Biru) and Dr Abdul Rahman Ismail (BN – Bukit Kota).

He also said that the Land Development Ministry was identifying research institutions in the state to carry out research and development on jatropha as it was a relatively new crop.

“Although there are five institutions carrying out R&D on the crop in Peninsular Malaysia and their findings may be relevant to us, we still have to undertake intensive research on the feasibility of cultivating jatropha on a large scale under Sarawak conditions,” he said.

Jatropha can be used to produce biodiesel.

Sarawak International Medical Centre (SIMC)
RM400million state of the art cardiac centre, cancer centre and kidney centre...

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rizalhakim

July 29th, 2008, 04:22 AM

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rizalhakim

July 29th, 2008, 04:25 AM

New hosptal for Shah Alam
Azira Shaharuddin

http://www.nst.com.my/Streets/Saturday/Stories/2303315/insidepix1
The new hospital will look like this once it is completed in 2010.

SHAH ALAM: Good news for Shah Alam folks.

They will not only get a new government hospital which will be ready in 2010, but also a new government clinic in Section 19.

Shah Alam Hospital will be located next to the current government clinic in Section 7.

Works on the new hospital had started since November last year.

The 300-bed hospital will be a secondary care hospital, providing basic specialised treatments such as general medicine, general surgery, orthopedics, pediatrics, obstetrics and gynaecology.

It will be equipped with neonatal intensive care unit, intensive care unit, cardiac care unit and a high dependency ward.

The RM491.6 million project will also house quarters, hostels and housing units for doctors, support personnel, nurses and housemen.

With the new hospital, Shah Alam folks will no longer have to go to Hospital Tengku Ampuan Rahimah in Klang or Universiti Malaya Medical Centre in Petaling Jaya to receive health care from government hospital.

A Health Ministry source said the hospital will complement Hospital Tengku Ampuan Rahimah and ease congestion there.

Meanwhile, works on the new government clinic will begin in September or October this year.

It will have the same size as the current clinic in Section 7 but with a different design.

The spokesman said the new clinic would enable residents on the other side of the Federal Highway to get easier access to a government clinic.

"Currently, they have to cross the highway to get to the government clinic in Section 7," he said.

Currently, there is only one government clinic in the city.

rizalhakim

July 29th, 2008, 05:01 AM

Hospitals come under fire
By JAYAGANDI JAYARAJ and TAN KARR WEI

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TWO private hospitals located in Kota Damansara have come under fire from the residents and the business community in the area.

Residents and businessmen claim that the location of the two hospitals would only add to the traffic situation in the township.

One of the hospitals, which have begun ground clearing works, is located on a piece of land adjacent to the Giant hypermarket along Jalan PJU 5/26, next to the Dataran Sunway commercial centre.

Gugusan Dedap residents' association president Zamarudin Zainudin said a hospital should not be built within a commercial area that was prone to traffic congestion.

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Project under fire: An aerial view of the hospital site. In the background is Dataran Sunway (white buildings) and a block of commercial shoplots that is under construction.

“Emergency vehicles would have problems getting into the area,” he said.

MBPJ Town Planning Department director Sharipah Marhaini Syed Ali said the hospital must submit a fresh application for approval to the council.

“When the initial building plans were approved, there were no objections from the the Selangor Development Corporation (PKNS), the owner of the neighbouring plots. Since residents are now complaining, we have rejected the building plans. They would have to do a comprehensive traffic study and resubmit plans,” she said.

Meanwhile, there are mixed reactions from business operators at Dataran Sunway about the opening of another specialist centre in the area.

The location of the four-block medical centre, occupying the corner lots of the commercial building along Jalan PJU 5/6, opposite The Strand, is said to be not conducive due to the high traffic volume anticipated in area after the opening of the Giant hypermarket.

A businessman who owns several shoplots in the area said due to the anticipated high traffic, it would be difficult for emergency vehicles to gain access to the area.

However, there are others who think otherwise.

Lee Hui Seng said the specialist centre provided medical facility for the residents.

He said Kota Damansara residents needed medical facilities, as the only hospital in the vicinity was the Tropicana Medical Centre, located next to the Segi College.

“But that is a big hospital with ambulance facilities whereas this specialist centre is for outpatient treatments,” he said.

He added the specialist centre would not add to the anticipated traffic jam in the area as unlike shopping malls, people do not visit hospitals everyday.

“Besides, the specialist centre would only generate more business to the area.

rizalhakim

July 29th, 2008, 06:09 AM

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nazrey

July 30th, 2008, 03:40 AM

KK cardiac centre needs RM60m more to be built
Wednesday July 30, 2008
TheStar

KOTA KINABALU: The Health Ministry is seeking an additional RM60mil for an urgently-required cardiac centre to be built here – the country’s fifth.

Health Minister Datuk Liow Tiong Lai said the Government had initially approved some RM80mil for the cardiac centre but the project cost had since jumped to RM140mil as the ministry had increased the scope of the works.

“The cost of the building itself is not that much but the bulk of the expenditure is for the specialised equipment needed there,” he told reporters after visiting the Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH) here yesterday.

He said the 100-bed cardiac centre would be a unit within QEH and would be the latest in the country after similar facilities built in Kuala Lumpur, Penang, Johor Baru and Kuching.

Liow said the centre was urgently needed as some 100 heart patients from Sabah were being sent to the National Heart Institute (IJN) every year for surgery.

In addition, there were about 174 open heart surgeries carried out in the state by IJN surgeons annually.

Meanwhile, Liow said that after personally seeing the overcrowding in some wards in QEH he had directed his ministry’s officers to speed up the construction of two more blocks of wards at the hospital.

He said the “twin towers” were due to be completed by 2010 and would increase the hospital’s capacity by 660 beds.

“The additional wards are very much needed. Some wards are so overcrowded that there are even beds along the corridors,” Liow said.

He said he had also approved an additional RM8mil for the hospital to acquire various equipment.

rizalhakim

July 30th, 2008, 07:24 AM

Hospital to continue giving the best care

METRO Specialist Hospital in Sungai Petani will not resort to cost-cutting measures to face the challenging times but will strive to improve its healthcare services instead.

Its managing director Dr Tneoh Shen Jen said the hospital would weather the tough times by working together to provide patients with good and efficient medical services.

“We don’t have to resort to cost-cutting measures like laying off staff which some organisations have had to do during these hard economic times,” he said at the hospital’s 15th anniversary celebration at a hotel recently.

Dr Tneoh also said the recent increase in petrol prices had resulted in overall increased costs of running the hospital.

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Dr Yneoh (red tie) cutting the cake with other hospital staff.

“The increased cost of living is likely to drive patients to seek free treatment at the government hospitals,” he added.

The hospital began operating in a shophouse at Jalan Kampung Bahru in 1993 and moved into its present four-storey modern building with state-of-the-art facilities about six years ago.

The dinner, which was themed ‘Glamorous Nite’, saw Dr Tneoh giving out service awards to staff.

rizalhakim

August 1st, 2008, 07:29 AM

Sabah bakal miliki Pusat Jantung
Oleh Hassan Omar
bhnews@bharian.com.my

PRIHATIN: Liow (kiri) beramah mesra dengan pesakit menunggu giliran untuk dirawat di Hospital Queen Elizabeth di Kota Kinabalu, baru-baru ini.

KOTA KINABALU: Sabah bakal memiliki Pusat Jantung yang ditempatkan di Hospital Queen Elizabeth (QEH) khusus bagi merawat pesakit kronik.

Pusat Jantung bernilai RM140 juta itu akan dibina tidak lama lagi dan dijangka siap dalam tempoh tiga tahun bagi membolehkan pesakit jantung menerima rawatan sempurna.

Menteri Kesihatan, Datuk Liow Tiong Lai, berkata Sabah agak ketinggalan berbanding Sarawak, Pulau Pinang, Johor dan Selangor yang masing-masing mempunyai pusat berkenaan.

"Selama ini, pesakit jantung kronik di negeri ini terpaksa dihantar ke Institut Jantung Negara (IJN) di Kuala Lumpur.

"Rawatan Kardiologi di QEH hanya mampu dilakukan bagi kes pesakit jantung biasa. Dengan adanya pusat berkenaan, pembedahan secara lebih sempurna mampu dilakukan," katanya.

Beliau berkata demikian selepas melawat QEH, di sini semalam. Hadir sama, Pengarah QEH, Dr Zuraidah Ahmad Babji. Sehari sebelum itu beliau melawat Hospital Sandakan.

Liow berkata, pusat berkenaan berupaya menempatkan antara 80 hingga 100 katil dan dilengkapi peralatan canggih untuk digunakan pakar pembedahan.

Setakat ini, Unit Kardiologi QEH hanya mampu melakukan purata 174 pembedahan jantung setahun, selain menghantar kira-kira 100 pesakit jantung ke IJN dalam tempoh yang sama.

Liow berkata, usaha memindahkan pesakit jantung dari Sabah ke IJN tidak mudah kerana ia harus dilengkapi pelbagai peralatan bagi memastikan mereka selamat sebelum menjalani pembedahan.

Sebelum ini, katanya, kerajaan memperuntukkan RM80 juta untuk membina Pusat Jantung tetapi tiada kontraktor sanggup membinanya berikutan kosnya yang tinggi.

"Sehubungan itu, kementerian menambah RM60 juta lagi bagi memastikan projek itu dapat dilaksanakan," katanya.

rizalhakim

August 4th, 2008, 08:42 AM

Medical tourists coming to Malaysia in thousands
By : ANNIE FREEDA CRUEZ

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(From left) Khaleda Mariam Sajjad’s doctor prescribed medication for bone degeneration; Faridah Moni Shahidullah is impressed with the quality of Malaysian health care

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Health tourism is on the uptrend and Malaysia is well-placed to reap the benefits. ANNIE FREEDA CRUEZ takes a look at the numbers.

TWO Bangladeshi teachers have proved that you don't have to be rich and famous to be able to afford quality medical care while having a good time in Malaysia.

Khaleda Mariam Sajjad, 55, and Faridah Moni Shahidullah, 65, were the first Bangladeshis to visit the country as health tourists after Malaysia Healthcare (MHC) set up its office in Dhaka, Bangladesh, on June 5.

They took advantage of the "Lifestyle Healthcare Package in Malaysia" offered in conjunction with the launch of the Malaysian Health Care office and its website, www.malaysiahealthcare.com, by MHC, Tourism Malaysia and Newport Holidays.

Khaleda, a mother of two, said: "I knew I was suffering from arthritis for the past two years but after a thorough checkup, I was told I also suffer from osteoporosis.

"The orthopaedic surgeon told me that bone degeneration was eating into my hip bone.

"He prescribed medication to slow down the degeneration. I will be keeping in touch with the doctor through email about my condition."

Faridah, who has four sons and three grandchildren, said:

"I am impressed with the high quality and affordable state-of-the-art medical facilities and services. I am happy with the service and hope to come back in three months for a follow-up check-up."

Malaysian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Datuk Abdul Malek Abdul Aziz who launched MHC's website in Dhaka, said:

"MHC can serve as a one-stop destination for all medical and tourism related needs for Bangladeshis, bringing together all related service providers in Malaysia on a single platform ."

MHC, which was launched in 2006 by former Tourism Minister Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor, is a global facilitator for health tourism in Malaysia.

MHC acts as a bridge between the health tourist and service providers -- hospitals, travel agents, insurance providers, airlines and hotels.

A survey conducted by the Association of Private Hospitals of Malaysia found that the number of foreign patients seeking treatment in Malaysia had increased greatly over the years.

In 2005, 232,161 foreign patients were treated in Malaysian private hospitals, generating over RM150.9 million in revenue.

In the following year, 296,687 medical tourists visited Malaysia. This earned the country RM203.6 million. Last year, there were 341,288 foreign patients. This resulted in revenue totalling RM253.84 million.

The country's popularity as a healthcare destination is due to the fact that it offers health care at competitive rates, compared with many developed countries.

Malaysian hospitals have also invested in world-class equipment and secured the services of medical personnel and specialists who received their training in countries such as Britain, Australia and the United States.

There are now more than 210 private hospitals with more than 10,000 beds, compared with only 50 private hospitals with 2,000 beds in 1980. At the end of last year, private hospitals employed 18,246 doctors and 68,349 nurses.

Tourism Malaysia predicts that revenue from health tourism will reach RM2.2 billion in 2010.

A 28 per cent hike is expected from Southeast Asian countries, Bangladesh, Australia, New Zealand, Middle East, Japan, Britain and Europe, with increasing interest from the US and Canada.

MHC chief executive officer Suresh Ponnudurai said their health tourism portal served all the major private hospitals, including the National Heart Institute, and helped to market Malaysia as a world-class healthcare destination.

He said government hospitals which had private wings were in the midst of getting themselves organised before joining in to promote their facilities and services.

"We need to promote ourselves aggressively in order to compete with other Asean countries. Most of the patients visiting Malaysia come from Indonesia and Singapore.

"We have people from some 34 countries visiting our website. Many of them come to Malaysia because of long waiting lists at hospitals in their own countries and because it is more affordable."

MHC also coordinates travel, accommodation, medical screening and holiday package arrangements.

"We act as a one-stop centre. People find it convenient as they don't have to go through all the hassle.The cake is huge. If we market our services properly, we will be able to attract more foreign patients."

rizalhakim

August 5th, 2008, 05:38 AM

Pahang to have a hospital in each district

CAMERON HIGHLANDS: Two more hospitals will be built in Pahang this year to ensure all its districts have one each, Health Minister Datuk Liow Tong Lai said.

Liow said the last two would be built in Rompin and Bera districts after the completion of hospitals in Cameron Highlands, Pekan and Temerloh.

He said the Sultan Hajjah Kalsom Hospital in Cameron Highlands was the latest to be completed.

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Royal touch: Sultan Ahmad Shah (right) pampering day-old baby girl named Kalsom carried by Sultanah Kalsom while Liow looks on at the hosital in Cameron Highlands recently.

“The Federal Government’s commitment to providing facilities for healthcare is shown with the availability of the hospitals and health clinics in most villages.

“Sultanah Hajjah Kalsom Hospital built at a cost of RM112mil will replace the community hospital and benefit patients from Ipoh in Perak.

“In the 9th Malaysia Plan, apart from the hospitals in Rompin and Bera which are under construction, there are 22 health clinics, 16 community clinics, 19 upgraded hospitals and 20 staff quarters, while a project to upgrade a health clinic has been approved,” Liow said in his speech during the official opening and renaming of the hospital here recently.

The Cameron Highlands Hos–pital was renamed after Sultan Pahang Sultan Ahmad Shah’s wife Sultanah Kalsom.

Sultan Ahmad Shah officiated at the ceremony while Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Adnan Yaakob and wife Datin Seri Junaini Kassim and other state dignitaries were present.

Liow said the hospital, which had been operational from January, had 76 beds and could provide outpatient and in-patient, operation theatre and physiotherapy services.

“The hospital will be served by visiting specialists from Ipoh Hospital for children, obstetric, gynaecology and psychiatric services, while surgeons will come later.

“We provide shuttle services from Tanah Rata to the hospital, which is quite a distance from the town,” he said.

Liow said some critical cases were previously referred to Ipoh Hospital, however, patients from Perak who lived near here could seek treatment at the hospital.

Meanwhile, Sultan Ahmad Shah said, with the increase tourists, it was timely for the highland destination to have a hospital.

“I advise people to keep having programmes to promote healthy living, take healthy food and participate in healthy activities.

“We need to keep reminding people to care for their health as prevention is better than cure,” Sultan Ahmad Shah said.

rizalhakim

August 5th, 2008, 05:50 AM

Seremban Specialist Hospital Eyes RM6 Mln Net Profit This Year

SEREMBAN, Aug 4 (Bernama) -- Seremban Specialist Hospital (SSH), a member of the KPJ Healthcare Bhd group, expects to record RM6 million net profit this year by offering quality and specialist services.

Its general manager, SSH Abdul Aziz Abdul Rahman, said the hospital has treated over 55,000 patients as at June this year.

"The hospital offers various specialist services, including heart, brain and plastic surgery," he told a media briefing after a visit by Negeri Sembilan's Health, Science, Technology and Innovation committee chairman, Datuk Ismail Taib, and the state's Health Department director, Dr Zainal Ariffin Omar, here Monday.

He said in 2007, over 100,000 patients received treatment at the hospital and the figure was expected to increase this year.

The hospital started operations on Nov 1, 2004. It is a joint venture between the KPJ group, which holds 72 percent stake, and the Negeri Sembilan Islamic Religious Council, 28 percent.

-- BERNAMA

rizalhakim

August 7th, 2008, 07:31 AM

Sarawak bina satu lagi hospital

KUCHING 6 Ogos - Sarawak berhasrat membina sebuah lagi hospital umum di negeri ini sebagai langkah menampung jumlah pesakit yang semakin bertambah pada masa ini.

Ketua Menteri Sarawak, Tan Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud berkata, hospital baru itu dijangka dibina di lokasi yang sama dengan Pusat Perubatan Antarabangsa Sarawak di Samarahan.

Menurutnya, ia akan berkonsepkan hospital gabungan iaitu memiliki hubungan dengan hospital sedia ada di Kuching dan Samarahan termasuk Hospital Umum Sarawak (HUS).

''Konsep gabungan itu akan memberi kelebihan untuk meningkatkan perkhidmatan kepada rakyat terutama dari segi kepakaran dan perubatan.

''Selain itu, hospital gabungan itu akan membolehkan pakar-pakar kesihatan boleh berkongsi pendapat dan kepakaran dalam menyembuhkan sesuatu jenis penyakit," katanya kepada pemberita di sini hari ini.

Terdahulu beliau merasmikan majlis majlis Persidangan Ketiga Teknikal HRD Asia Pasifik dan Ekspo Kerjaya 2008 di sini hari ini.

Beliau diminta mengulas mengenai rancangan pembinaan sebuah hospital baru ekoran HUS tidak lagi mampu menampung peningkatan populasi 600,000 penduduk di bandar raya ini.

Dalam pada itu, Abdul Taib berkata, hospital baru berkenaan akan memberi tumpuan kepada penyakit kronik seperti penyakit barah, buah pinggang, jantung dan lain-lain.

Sehubungan itu, beliau berharap dengan pembinaan hospital baru itu akan dapat mengimbangi jumlah pesakit yang semakin meningkat sehinggakan hospital sedia ada tidak mampu menampung bilangan mereka.

''Bagaimanapun, kerajaan negeri perlu menunggu peruntukan dari kerajaan Persekutuan sebelum dapat membina hospital baru berkenaan," katanya.

rizalhakim

August 8th, 2008, 08:10 AM

http://www.spkb.net/images/construction/gallery/pic09.jpg
Temerloh Hospital, Pahang

nazrey

August 13th, 2008, 08:19 AM

Hospital Sungai Buloh
Gombak

http://www.krugerfan.com/images/projects/malaysia-sungai.jpg

by khulism (http://flickr.com/photos/khulism/2248393242/)

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2037/2248393242_2e8a516431_b.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2366/2247599863_4882130cb8_b.jpg

nazrey

August 13th, 2008, 08:35 AM

Pandan Hospital , JB
(nasib baik bukan pondan)

http://www.pjindah.com.my/images/pandan.jpg

This 704-bed government hospital is located in Pandan, Johor Bahru on a 50 acre site. It is set to be a model hospital for Malaysia in the 21st century. The emphasis of the planning is that of a friendly healthcare setting which supports, maintains and improves the healing process of the patients as well as creating a supportive working environment for staff. The planning also reflects international best practice principles for modern tertiary hospitals.

This project was executed in collaboration with GDP Architects Sdn Bhd with Perunding Alam Bina Sdn Bhd as the Medical Planner.

http://www.pab.com.my/projects/images/pandan.jpg

Taman Mt. Austin
by taysan_43

http://img32.picoodle.com/img/img32/3/8/12/f_11m_8504038.jpg

nazrey

August 13th, 2008, 08:26 PM

nazrey

August 14th, 2008, 02:31 PM

nazrey

August 20th, 2008, 06:17 PM

RM1.3m for Seberang Jaya Hospital
Wednesday August 20, 2008 MYT 4:23:32 PM
By LOOI SUE-CHERN
TheStar

BUTTERWORTH: The Health Ministry will allocate RM1.3mil to the Seberang Jaya Hospital to overcome power supply problems and related technical difficulties, said Minister Datuk Liow Tiong Lai.

He also announced that the Ministry will give the hospital RM280,000 to upgrade the air handling units (AHU) in the hospital’s operation theatres.

“We are aware of the hospital’s space constraints due to rising numbers of patients.

“We will look into plans to build a new block in the hospital and provide 500 additional beds to the existing over 300,” he said during a visit to the hospital Wednesday.

rizalhakim

August 25th, 2008, 08:19 AM

SEGi mulls own training hospital
by Chong Jin Hun
Email us your feedback at fd@bizedge.com

PETALING JAYA: SEG International Bhd (SEGi), looking beyond its bread-and-butter education business, plans to set up a training hospital to complement its medical and health science courses.

The university-college operator is also planning to venture into the information technology (IT) sector. It intends to conduct research and development with partner universities to develop commercially-viable offerings.

“Medical institutions and hospitals go hand-in-hand. We are exploring and should be able to decide by early next year. There could also be IT-related businesses,” SEGi group chief executive officer Datuk Clement Hii told The Edge Financial Daily in an interview recently. He did not elaborate.

The initiatives come at a time when SEGi is expanding its portfolio of academic courses to include higher-margin offerings, and increasing student-intake capacity in line with its aim to double revenue by the financial year ending Dec 31, 2010.

At present, the education provider has some 16,000 students across six campuses in the Klang Valley, Penang and Sarawak. The enrolment is expected to grow by up to 9.4% to 17,500 students by the end of this year.

Foreign students make up 18% of the current enrolment, of which about 70% are full-time students. Hii said foreign students are expected to constitute about a quarter of the student population by end-2009.

SEGi, which started off with courses in business and accountancy, has widened its portfolio to include medicine, nursing and pharmacy, according to its website.

It is capitalising on the global shortage of nurses. Hii said the company was expanding the training unit to become Malaysia’s largest nursing school in terms of student number and campus facility in three-and-a-half years. It already has around 2,000 student-nurses under its roof and the number is expected to quadruple to about 8,000 within the period.

“As the market becomes more competitive, we should go towards high-ticket, high-margin programmes which will allow us better returns. And we should also go into programmes where there are higher entry barriers.

“SEG International is facing very interesting times and it needs to continuously change and re-invent itself in the face of keen competition as well as the constantly changing needs of consumers,” said Hii.

Group earnings improved in the first quarter ended March 31, 2008. Net profit more than doubled to RM5.79 million from RM2.26 million a year earlier as it introduced new courses. Gains from the disposal of its Kota Damansara campus also boosted profit. Revenue, meanwhile, rose 27.1% to RM25.48 million from RM20.05 million.

And owning a hospital would allow SEGi to generate a new income stream from patients.

Note that a university-college status trims overall operating cost as the education provider can confer its own academic qualifications instead of relying on the credentials of partner universities to whom it pays royalty. SEGi was conferred university-college status by the Higher Education Ministry in June.

In general, shares of Malaysian private education entities have outperformed the wider market. Analysts said this was due to the inelastic and recession-proof qualities of the education sector amid poorer economic sentiments which had prompted consumers to spend less.

“The education sector is recession-proof because it is a necessity. There is a lack of substitution due to limited places in public universities,” OSK Research Sdn Bhd analyst Nor Fauzi Nasron told The Edge Financial Daily.

This lack of places at public universities has created a thriving market for private education players in Malaysia. Another contributory factor is that the country is a cheaper destination for foreign students compared with countries like Singapore and Hong Kong.

There are only a handful of public-listed education providers in the country. SEGi ‘s rivals are Inti Universal Holdings Bhd, Stamford College Bhd and HELP International Corp Bhd. SEGi, Inti, HELP and Stamford closed unchanged at 70 sen, RM1.18, RM1.36 and 25 sen, respectively, last Friday.

rizalhakim

August 27th, 2008, 04:53 AM

Hospital for cancer patients
BY PRIYA MENON

Cancer patients will soon have their own hospital in five years. The hospital to be built by the National Cancer Council (Makna) is expected to cost RM500,000.

“We want to build a hospital where they can get treatment without worrying about the cost,” said Makna president Datuk Mohd Farid Ariffin.

Farid said the new hospital would have modern facilities.

http://thestar.com.my/archives/2008/8/27/central/m_08ariffin.jpg
Thank you: Farid presenting Mathews with the Excellent Award.

They are now collecting funds for the building and one such effort was getting students to donate money in the form of coins with the help of the Education Ministry.

“The last time we managed to collect 1,000,000 coins and judging by its success, Bank Negara is allowing us to continue this effort,” Farid added.

Makna is also going global to expand its network and treatment facilities as well as exchange knowledge with other countries.

“It is an exchange of expertise as different countries may have different resources for research,” he said.

He said this during the Makna volunteers get-together at Bandar Baru Sentul recently.

The ceremony was held to honour 234 of its volunteers out of which nine received awards for their achievements and contributions last year.

Becoming a volunteer is no easy task for anyone who is able-bodied what more for cancer survivor Aizan Sofia Amin who lost her leg to cancer.

“I was always doubtful of whether I could help others in my condition but then I discovered that I could still be of help,” Aizan said.

The 25-year-old, who is pursuing her Masters in Psychology, was awarded the special recognition award and the Promising Youth Award.

Other recipients included Jacob PC Mathews, 65, who was the Excellent Award recipient and Helen Wong Yoke Chan, 64, a multiple cancer survivor, who received the Special Recognition Award.

“These people inspire others who have cancer to carry on, ” said Makna general manager Farahida Mohd Farid.

nazrey

September 18th, 2008, 02:29 AM

RM300m specialist hospital for Malacca
Thursday September 18, 2008
TheStar

MALACCA: Work on a proposed RM300mil private specialist hospital in Klebang is set to begin by December and completed in three years.

Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Ali Rustam said the company involved had briefed the state on development plans which would be submitted to the city council’s one-stop centre for approval next week.

The 300-bed hospital will be known as Straits of Melaka Specialist Centre and be served by 70 specialists, he said after presenting aid to 40 widows of policemen at the Police Contingent Headquarters in Bukit Beruang recently.

Mohd Ali said that all Barisan Nasional assemblymen and senators would adopt factories to foster closer rapport between the state and investors.

The factories would be listed and assigned to their respective bapa angkat, he said, adding that the assemblymen and senators would be required to periodically visit them.

He said the move would help the state get feedback from investors and workers to address technical and manpower issues.

triple-j

September 25th, 2008, 09:47 PM

rizal, could you snap latest pic of institut jantung negara and tawakal hospital? wanna see the progress so far... if you dont mind and not busy at all....thx!!

erikko

September 26th, 2008, 04:26 AM

That hospital for cancer patients is an innovative move for Malaysia as it will only cater victims from that terminal disease

rizalhakim

September 26th, 2008, 04:53 AM

rizal, could you snap latest pic of institut jantung negara and tawakal hospital? wanna see the progress so far... if you dont mind and not busy at all....thx!!

IJN 99% completed and Tawakal 85% completed...ill take new pics probably after raya ok!!!

rizalhakim

September 29th, 2008, 04:30 AM

Ipoh Hospital needs blood

IPOH: The increase in dengue cases and number of patients needing blood transfusions in Perak lately has dwindled the supply of blood at the Ipoh Hospital, prompting an SOS for blood donations.

Members of the public who want to donate blood can do so at the hospital's blood bank on Monday and Tuesday (8am-5pm, 8pm-10pm) and Wed-nesday and Thursday (1pm-6pm). For more information, call 05-522-2637.

rizalhakim

September 29th, 2008, 04:31 AM

Penang resort hospital to be ready in 2011
By LOOI SUE-CHERN

GEORGE TOWN: A specialist centre cum resort providing Western and Eastern medical and homeopathy treatment -- touted to be the first in Asia -- will be built in Batu Kawan in Penang.

Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng said the Farrali International Specialist Hospital and Wellness Resort (FISH-WR) to be completed by 2011 would attract more medical tourists to Penang.

He said medical tourism would be further developed to increase the state tourism’s contribution to the GDP from 22% to 30% by 2013.

“Medical tourism’s potential has increased since people discovered they can enjoy five-star medical treatment at affordable costs at different locations in the world.

“We do not want to be left out of this industry and FISH-WR will make medical tourism a success in Penang,” he said at the agreement signing ceremony between Penang Develop- ment Corporation and Farrali Mutiara Medical Group (KPFM).

Lim, who is chairman of the corporation, said the state-of-the-art FISH-WR would change the country’s medical tourism landscape and set itself apart from other healthcare centres focusing on medical tourism.

To be built by the 100% Bumiputra-owned KPFM, the 60,703 sq m hospital will be a leading diabetic and cancer care centre in the region and provide complementary healing methods like acupuncture and ayurvedic treatments.

Other facilities include 200 service apartments, 30 floating chalets, 100 hotel rooms and a nursing institute run by an established international nursing college to provide education and training in the field.

KPFM chief executive officer Dr Mohd Ghouse Mohd Noor said the RM300mil project would be completed in 2011 and create 300 jobs in the early stages.

nazrey

October 2nd, 2008, 09:46 PM

Ministry to look at alternate funding for new hospital
Wednesday October 1, 2008 MYT 6:18:40 PM
By YUEN MEIKENG
TheStar

KUALA LUMPUR: The Health Ministry will seek alternative funding via Private Financing Initiatives for the development of the Women and Children’s Hospital near the Kuala Lumpur Hospital (HKL).

Deputy Health Minister Datuk Dr Abdul Latif Ahmad said the ministry would try to obtain financial support through this “unconventional” means due to the current tight economic situation.

“If we pushed this project to be financed under the 10th Malaysia Plan (10MP), then it would seem that we were running away from our problems,” Dr Abdul Latif told reporters after meeting patients in the HKL maternity ward for Hari Raya on Wednesday.

The hospital, originally budgeted for under the 9MP, would cost about RM700mil and consist of 600 beds.

Health Minister Datuk Liow Tiong Lai had said on Tuesday that RM300mil was cut from the ministry’s budget under the 9MP, causing certain projects to be pushed to the 10MP.

HKL delivers 16,000 babies a year and currently has 250 beds in its maternity section.

rizalhakim

October 7th, 2008, 05:38 AM

heard about pantai bangsar xpension hospital...rumors a 15storeys hospital....

rizalhakim

October 7th, 2008, 07:12 AM

rizal, could you snap latest pic of institut jantung negara and tawakal hospital? wanna see the progress so far... if you dont mind and not busy at all....thx!!

ijn
taken by mercuri 4/10/08

http://img34.picoodle.com/img/img34/3/10/4/f_5102008005m_ad8fdee.jpg

nazrey

October 7th, 2008, 10:42 AM

SMART!

triple-j

October 7th, 2008, 06:42 PM

ijn
taken by mercuri 4/10/08

http://img34.picoodle.com/img/img34/3/10/4/f_5102008005m_ad8fdee.jpg

^^thx Rizal, I took a few pics myself since I'm in town...

IJN
http://i264.photobucket.com/albums/ii161/helmessy/DSC09854.jpg
http://i264.photobucket.com/albums/ii161/helmessy/DSC09855.jpg
http://i264.photobucket.com/albums/ii161/helmessy/DSC09856.jpg

Hospital Tawakal
http://i264.photobucket.com/albums/ii161/helmessy/DSC09858.jpg
http://i264.photobucket.com/albums/ii161/helmessy/DSC09860.jpg

One unknown building that I assume belongs to HKL or our Kementerian Kesihatan. Can be seen at Bulatan Pahang on the way to Istana Negara.
http://i264.photobucket.com/albums/ii161/helmessy/DSC09852.jpg
http://i264.photobucket.com/albums/ii161/helmessy/DSC09853.jpg

nazrey

October 7th, 2008, 07:47 PM

Selayang Hospital

http://hselayang.moh.gov.my/uploads/img47b13581b385d.jpg

Nice detection here!!!
by mohaSHUK

http://img02.picoodle.com/img/img02/3/10/7/f_14m_f92713f.jpg

http://img01.picoodle.com/img/img01/3/10/7/f_12m_5624aa4.jpg

http://img37.picoodle.com/img/img37/3/10/7/f_13m_bbb895c.jpg

Acheivements

World's First Arm Transplant In A Neonate
A multidisciplinary team of doctors and paramedics created medical history by performing the World's First Arm Transplant on a baby, the youngest recipient reported. The 15-hour feat took place on 18th of May 2001. Since both donor and recipient were identical twins, toxic anti-rejection drugs were not required.

Renal Transplant Across The South China Sea
Selayang Hospital has been earmarked as a centre for solid organ transplants including renal transplant. The first cadaveric renal transplant in Selayang Hospital was performed on 27th December. The kidneys were harvested by our hospital urologists at Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Sabah and transplanted within 12 hours in Selayang Hospital.

Setting A New Standard In Dialysis In Malaysia
Selayang Hospital Dialysis Unit is the first unit in Malaysia to introduce regular service of haemodiafiltration with on line replacement.

Another First
A Prospective Observational Study conducted at Selayang Hospital won the first prize when it was presented at the 16th Annual Seminar in Nephrology in Penang on May 2000 entitled Multiple use of reused dialyser - Is it safe and wise?

International Meetings
The Department of Ophthalmology hosted a Live Surgery Session of the 13th International Meeting on Cataract Implant Microsurgery and Refractive Keratoplasty (ICIMRK) on 31st August 2000. It held for the first time at Selayang Hospital. We also hosted the 3rd International Telehealth Conference on 1st September.

National Meetings
Three National meetings which were successfully organised in Selayang Hospital include the one day Pre-7th Perinatal Congress Symposium on 'Perinatal Care the Cyberway' which was attended by various doctors and nurses from the Obstetric and Paediatric Departments nationwide, a seminar on Picture Archiving and Communication System (PACS) and Teleradiology which was organised by the team from Selayang Hospital and Kuala Lumpur General Hospital (GHKL) for Radiologists and Radiographers from the whole country and a two-day renal transplant course organised by the urology and nephrology teams which was attended by 220 doctors and nurses nationwide.

Teleradiology
Two connections were established between Selayang Hospital and GHKL; The first connection is between Emergency Department Selayang Hospital and Call Centre GHKL, primarily for Neurosurgical referral. The second connection is between Diagnostic Imaging Departments of both hospitals.

Innovation In Medical Reports Application
The Medical Record Department had created an application of "Process of Medical Reports and Medical Board". Now most of the government hospitals in Selangor and Johor Bahru, GHKL and Sultanah Aminah Hospital, are currently using this application. It generates statistical outputs that measure the number and types of medical report applications processed daily. The medical report analysis gives an overall insight as to the time taken upon completion of the medical reports by the department and individual doctors.

Second Prize
Selayang Hospital won the second prize in the category of Public Building in the Selangor's Landscape competition which was held in conjunction with the Malaysian National Day celebration 2000.

Source : http://hselayang.moh.gov.my/

rizalhakim

October 9th, 2008, 09:37 AM

KPJ buys centre for RM12m

Email us your feedback at fd@bizedge.com

PETALING JAYA: KPJ Healthcare Bhd’s wholly owned unit Kumpulan Perubatan (Johor) Sdn Bhd is buying the entire stake of Pusat Pakar Kluang Utama Sdn Bhd — a private medical centre for RM12 million cash.

In an announcement to Bursa Malaysia, KPJ said it would acquire the company from Wawasan Selantan Sdn Bhd and eight individuals for RM12 million cash as part of its efforts to expand its hospital network to locations where private healthcare is in demand.

The Main Board listed healthcare group said the proposed acquisition, which is expected to complete by year-end, will be financed entirely by internally generated funds. As at June 30, 2008, KPJ has cash and cash equivalents of RM127.12 million.

KPJ said the prospects of the healthcare industry remained promising as more people were seeking better medical care and services especially among the urban dwellers.

nazrey

October 10th, 2008, 11:07 PM

Ranhill offers hospital skills

http://bp0.blogger.com/_BWQmSsODfo8/SFklheJIBqI/AAAAAAAACxs/8qpZFepqTeg/s400/hospital.gif

ENGINEERING group Ranhill Bhd is eyeing hospital jobs in the Middle East and Southeast Asia that are similar in nature to its Women and Children's Hospital project in Kuala Lumpur.

"The Ranhill group is moving globally in all directions and we are looking for construction activities such as to build hospitals.

"We built the Serdang Hospital in 2005 and now have a contract to construct the Women and Children's Hospital. So we do have the expertise," its executive director Datuk Chandrasekar Suppiah told Business Times.

The Women and Children's Hospital Package 2 contract, worth RM720 million, was awarded to Ranhill in March. The hospital will be built by unit Ranhill Engineering and Constructors Sdn Bhd.

The contract involves piling, superstructure, mechanical and electrical, clinical and non-clinical fit-out works, and building the hospital on the premises of the General Hospital Kuala Lumpur.

Ranhill group president and chief executive Tan Sri Hamdan Mohamad said that a bulk of contribution from Package 2 will flow through in its next financial year ending June 30 2009 as construction will begin only in August after the completion of Package 1.

In the financial year to June 2007, Ranhill posted profit of RM117 million and revenue of RM1.47 billion.

Package 1, worth RM16 million, involves demolishing existing buildings and diverting services at the General Hospital to pave the way for construction. Works started in December last year.

"The Package 1 works have been carried out well according to programme and undertaken sensitively due to the proximity within a functioning hospital, with primary consideration to ensure continued operations at the General Hospital," Hamdan said.

Ranhill is positioning itself to carry out Package 2 on schedule and to complete the project by December 2011, he added.

The 13-storey hospital, within a six-storey podium to cater for both clinical work flows and patient needs, will be assigned as the national referral hospital on health matters concerning women birthing cycle and paediatric ailments.

It will have 600 beds, with allowance for 100 more beds for future expansion, supported by secondary and tertiary clinical care services.

Hamdan said the hospital project will open new avenues for the group, and it may undertake similar work for clients overseas.

Ranhill has a very strong order book for engineering, procurement, commissioning and construction work under its belt, which will last the company for another seven years.

Ranhill to undertake RM720m hospital project
By Sharen Kaur Published: 2008/10/11
BusinessTimes

It is learnt that Ranhill is preparing a private financing initiative contract to be negotiated with the Ministry of Health

BUILDER Ranhill Bhd has been asked by the government to undertake work on the Women and Children's Hospital Package 2 project in Kuala Lumpur worth RM720 million as a private financing initiative (PFI).

The decision to complete the hospital project on a PFI basis instead of government financing was made in July due to lack of funds for it under the Ninth Malaysia Plan (9MP), a source close to the company said.

It is learnt that Ranhill is currently preparing the PFI contract to be negotiated with the Ministry of Health.

Ranhill Group president and chief executive officer Tan Sri Hamdan Mohamad and executive director and executive vice president Datuk Chandrasekar Suppiah were unavailable for comment.

The RM720 million Package 2 contract involves piling, superstructure, mechanical and electrical, clinical and non-clinical fit-out works, and building a 13-storey hospital on the premises of the current 2,350-bed Hospital Kuala Lumpur.

Ranhill is expected to start work in December or after getting approval from the Ministry of Health, and complete the project by late 2011 or early 2012.

The source said, however, that the cost has gone up by about 20 per cent due to additional equipment required and higher financing cost.

"Ranhill will be paid progressively for its work on the hospital project, therefore, its performance for the current year should also improve," the source said.

Ranhill has completed Package 1, worth RM16 million, which involved demolishing existing buildings and diverting services at the General Hospital to pave the way for the construction of Package 2.

triple-j

October 11th, 2008, 03:36 PM

Hospital Pantai, Ayer Keroh, Melaka

http://i264.photobucket.com/albums/ii161/helmessy/DSC00033.jpg

http://i264.photobucket.com/albums/ii161/helmessy/DSC00032.jpg

nazrey

October 17th, 2008, 10:06 PM

Columbia Asia opens 5th hospital in Malaysia
17 Oct 2008 6:35 PM
THEEDGEDAILY

TAIPING: Columbia Asia Sdn Bhd, a locally based international healthcare provider, has officially opened its fifth hospital in Malaysia, located here in Perak.

In a statement yesterday, Columbia Asia said the full development cost of the hospital was just under RM70 million, including the costs of land, construction and equipment.

The company operates a chain of modern hospitals across Asia designed for health care services for the growing middle-income groups in Asia. Its other facilities in Malaysia are located in Miri, Seremban, Shah Alam and Puchong.

"In Malaysia, over 60% of Columbia Asia’s revenues are received from third party payers, a percentage the company believes will only increase," according to Columbia Asia's chief executive officer Kelvin Tan.

Columbia Asia is 30% owned by the Employees Provident Fund (EPF) and 70% owned by Columbia Asia Healthcare Sdn Bhd, a Malaysian company with subsidiaries in Vietnam, India and in Indonesia. Each of the subsidiaries also operates under the trade name "Columbia Asia".

The Columbia Asia group is owned by more than 150 private equity companies, fund management organisations and individual investors, with 17 hospitals, most of which are in India. It has operating hospitals in India (four), Vietnam (two), and Indonesia (one). Its worldwide operations are managed from its offices in Subang Jaya.

Lestatlenoir

October 18th, 2008, 07:13 AM

Construction of (1) GICU & HDU (2) Nuclear medicine unit in Penang General Hospital.

http://img126.imageshack.us/img126/7127/dsc02829gw5.th.jpg (http://img126.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dsc02829gw5.jpg)http://img126.imageshack.us/images/thpix.gif (http://g.imageshack.us/thpix.php)

http://img127.imageshack.us/img127/4941/dsc02828ly2.th.jpg (http://img127.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dsc02828ly2.jpg)http://img127.imageshack.us/images/thpix.gif (http://g.imageshack.us/thpix.php)

http://img520.imageshack.us/img520/1985/dsc02801mh9.th.jpg (http://img520.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dsc02801mh9.jpg)http://img520.imageshack.us/images/thpix.gif (http://g.imageshack.us/thpix.php)

http://img127.imageshack.us/img127/8429/dsc02800tp9.th.jpg (http://img127.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dsc02800tp9.jpg)http://img127.imageshack.us/images/thpix.gif (http://g.imageshack.us/thpix.php)

:cheers:

p/s: GICU=general intensive care unit, HDU=high dependency unit

nazrey

October 18th, 2008, 08:08 AM

Putrajaya Hospital
taken by me (2604/2008)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v608/nazrey/Putrajaya/DSC00686.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v608/nazrey/Putrajaya/DSC00687.jpg

http://img33.picoodle.com/img/img33/3/10/17/f_DSC00673m_f16a6b2.jpg

http://img28.picoodle.com/img/img28/3/10/17/f_DSC00672m_fd12d21.jpg

nazrey

October 18th, 2008, 01:53 PM

Nilai Cancer Institute
Negeri Sembilan

http://img28.picoodle.com/img/img28/3/10/18/f_10m_3788950.jpg

http://img01.picoodle.com/img/img01/3/10/18/f_11m_b1c11dd.jpg

rizalhakim

October 21st, 2008, 06:04 AM

http://www.gadang.com.my/pics/construc_n_eng/20080815-hospital.jpg
Cadangan Merekebentuk, Membina, Menyiapkan, Mengujiterima, Mentauliah Dan Menyenggara Hospital Rehabilitasi Cheras (166 Katil)

nazrey

October 27th, 2008, 03:05 PM

Sabah proposes relocating Queen Elizabeth Hospital
Published: Monday October 27, 2008 MYT 5:52:00 PM
By RUBEN SARIO

KOTA KINABALU: Sabah is proposing the relocation of the Queen Elizabeth Hospital complex following the discovery that the facility’s main block is structurally unsafe.

Chief Minister Datuk Musa Aman said the Land and Survey Department had been directed to identify a tract of land in the city’s vicinity where the hospital could be relocated to.

“We feel the existing location of the hospital is too congested and hope the federal government could consider this matter,” he said Monday after attending the Sabah MIC Deepavali open house here.

Musa said the state cabinet would also discuss the relocation proposal at its next meeting, adding that the state government is giving the matter priority as medical facilities are crucial for the people.

“Our hope is that with a bigger piece of land, the Queen Elizabeth Hospital would become a better premier medical centre with even more facilities,” Musa added.

Last week, the Health Ministry disclosed that the hospital’s main tower block had been declared unsafe after a series of cracks were discovered in the structure.

The ministry said the structure of the hospital’s main tower block, the podium, the forensics block and the boiler room would be vacated and eventually demolished and the decision came following the latest engineering evaluation by Kumpulan Ikram Sdn Bhd and the Public Works Department (JKR) in Sabah.

The Ikram report also showed that the blocks could not last for long and were too uneconomical to repair.

The main tower block houses beds and the main health facilities such as eight operation theatres, forensics department, radiology, sterilisation supply centre, pharmacy and the ICU / CCU / VIP / surgery wards.

The hospital has taken measures to ensure that services continue to be delivered to patients, include placing patients at nearby government hospitals.

rizalhakim

October 28th, 2008, 07:19 AM

Bigger hospital planned for Kota Kinabalu
By : Roy Goh

KOTA KINABALU: The state capital needs a bigger hospital, Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman said yesterday.

"We need a bigger hospital for the people within Kota Kinabalu and we are willing to give a plot of land big enough to build it."

Musa said he had ordered state Land and Survey Department director Datuk Osman Jamal to find a suitable plot within the city.

"We have good and new hospitals all over Sabah, but here, the Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH) is getting more congested. I will bring this up in the next cabinet meeting," he said during the Sabah MIC Deepavali open house hosted by its state liaison committee chairman, Datuk V. Jothi, at the Kota Kinabalu Sports Complex in Likas.

For about a week now, the Health Ministry has been evacuating patients from the 27-year-old Tower Block at QEH following reports made by a consultant company that the building was unsafe.

The damaged Tower Block has 250 beds and several key facilities, including eight surgery rooms, the forensics department, intensive care unit wards, radiology services and a pharmacy.

The Beaufort, Keningau and Likas hospitals are now being used temporarily to accommodate patients from QEH but the government is also looking into the possibility of renting or buying services of private hospitals nearby.

Among its options are the Sabah Medical Centre and Damai Specialist Centre, both located within the Luyang area.

A new 10-storey building is also nearing completion in the QEH.

rizalhakim

October 30th, 2008, 08:07 AM

Penang draws in foreign patients

PENANG is attracting many foreign patients because of its high quality medical services and competitive costs, said Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng.

Last year, 210,000 of the country’s total of 300,000 foreign patients derived from Penang, he said.

“Penang is fortunate to have one of the highest doctor-population ratio in Malaysia. The standard of healthcare provided by private hospitals here is second to none,” he said at the 76th Penang Medical Practitioners Society’s Annual Dinner and Dance in Bayview Beach Resort, George Town, on Saturday.

He urged all private hospitals to work together and not to undermine each other.

“It’s also important that we do not forget the local population in our attempt to draw in medical tourists.

“The purpose of these private hospitals is to service the rakyat first and foremost. If we treat foreign patients along the way, this is fine as they bring in foreign ex-change.

“But we must constantly remind ourselves that the rakyat should not get a poor deal out of the si-tuation.

“The cost of healthcare should not be pushed out of reach for the rakyat and the rakyat should not be given lesser preference,” he added.

nazrey

October 31st, 2008, 05:57 AM

Kuala Lumpur General Hospital
Since 1870

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3201/2684611700_9781e6045a_b.jpg

History
1870 : It was developed as a district hospital comprising of 3 wards i.e., the Tai Wah Ward, the Choudhry Ward and the Malay Ward.
1920 : Upgraded to 25 wards (1st. class in Bangsar, 2nd. class and 3rd. class).
1962 : Development of HKL from Phase I to Phase IV. The development of the various phases were as follows: Phase I (1962 - 1968): Maternity Hospital, North Ward Block, Radiotherapy Department and Hostels for staff were built.
1968 - 1972 (Phase II): South Ward Block, Neurology Institute, Surgical Block, Radiology Block, National Blood Transfusion Centre and more hostels were added.
1972 - 1973 (Phase III): Specialist clinics, Outpatient Department and Doctor's hostel were constructed.
1973 - 1974 (Phase IV-A): Trainee Nurses hostel and Clubhouse added.
1975 (Phase IV-B): Orthopaedic Institute, Urology Institute, Artificial Limb Centre and Radiology Block built. The last phase of HKL was completed at the cost of RM 77 million.
1973 : HKL started functioning as a teaching hospital for UKM medical students.
1986 - 1988: Repairs and refurbishment of old building (Wooden Block) were performed.
1989 - 1992: Paediatric Institute was constructed.
1994 - 1997 (Phase II) - Upgrading of the Institute of Radiotherapy, Oncology and Nuclear Medicine.

Developments

HKL was conferred the Malaysian Society for Quality in Health Accreditation Status from July 23 last year to July 22, 2008.

“It was not easy for HKL to achieve the award. With 64 services and 7,000 staff, as well as being an old hospital, KLH faced a lot of constraints with structure and space,” said Dr Chua Soi Lek, Malaysian Minister of Health.

KLH is the biggest hospital in the South East Asian (ASEAN) region. It recorded 700,806 patients at the outpatient clinic last year with 124,570 patients being warded.

063xQD7rlzU

Hospital Kuala Lumpur (HKL) Corporate Video

rizalhakim

November 6th, 2008, 03:39 AM

Patients move out of 'sickly' Sabah hospital
By : Julia Chan

http://www.nst.com.my/pix/pix_top_11061

KOTA KINABALU: About 90 per cent of the patients at Queen Elizabeth Hospital, which was declared unsafe, have been evacuated.

Health Ministry director-general Tan Sri Dr Ismail Merican, who was at the hospital, said he was satisfied with the consulting company's findings and the evacuation.

"I came here to see the conditions as reported by the consultants. I hope the evacuation will be a smooth process," he said.

A staff member said patients on the sixth floor, which houses the female surgical ward, and the fifth floor, which houses the ear, nose and throat, dental and ophthalmology ward, have been evacuated.

The other wards at the eight-storey building are still occupied.

The seventh floor had been vacant for a while.

The operating theatre is also not in use and the hospital is only treating emergency cases.

Patients at the tower block have been referred to other government hospitals such as the Likas, Beaufort and Keningau hospitals.

The authorities are considering renting or buying space at private hospitals nearby, such as the Sabah Medical Centre.

Dr Ismail said he hoped the evacuation would be completed soon so as not to deprive Sabahans of health services.

Last month, Health Minister Datuk Liow Tiong Lai had announced that engineers from the Ikram Group Sdn Bhd had declared the tower block, podium, forensics building and boiler room unsafe.

The 27-year-old tower block has 250 beds and facilities, including eight surgery rooms, ICU wards, radiology services and a pharmacy.

Dr Ismail said future plans for a hospital would be discussed at the cabinet next week. These include the proposal by Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman for a new hospital in the city centre.

Hospital staff were relieved that action was finally being taken as they feared the building may collapse.

Falling concrete particles and cracks started surfacing in wards and toilets eight years ago.

nazrey

November 11th, 2008, 07:13 AM

tawakal hospital - 23/3/08

http://a140.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/90/l_1867487975db542bf1dd7a03f509185b.png

by kc.contreras

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3062/3018232499_265028a13d_o.jpg

rizalhakim

November 14th, 2008, 09:30 AM

Columbia Asia invests RM400m for 6 new hospitals
Published: 2008/11/14

COLUMBIA Asia, an international healthcare provider, will invest over RM400 million to build six new mid-sized community hospitals nationwide to cater to growing demand.

The hospitals will be in Balakong, Bukit Rimau, Kota Damansara, Nusajaya, Setapak and Bintulu. The projects, currently under construction, are expected to be completed within the next 14 months.

The chairman of Columbia Asia Group of Companies, Rick Evans said the company wanted to focus on the increasing demand for affordable healthcare services across Asia.

“The demand has resulted in an exponential increase in the number of people who are medically insured by employers and insurance companies,” he said at the signing of a RM116 million syndicated financing-i(commodity Murabahah/Tawarruq)and Al Ijarah Thumma Al Bai, between Columbia Asia, Bank Rakyat, RHB Islamic Bank Bhd and Bank Muamalat Malaysia Bhd, in Kuala Lumpur.

The financing is to cover 58 per cent of the total investment cost of RM225 million for three hospitals in Balakong, Bukit Rimau and Setapak.

The balance of the investment cost will be from the company’s internally generated funds.

Evans said Columbia Asia wants to be a preferred choice for employers, insurance companies and families as 60 per cent of the company’s business in Malaysia was contributed by third party administration.

Columbia Asia hospitals are designed for short lengths of stay and organised to use modern medical protocols and technologies.

The company currently operates five hospitals in Miri, Shah Alam, Seremban, Puchong and Taiping.

In Asia, it has a presence in India, Vietnam, Sri Lanka and Indonesia with eight hospitals in operation and has target a total of 35 regionally by the end of 2010.

In Malaysia, the Employees Provident Fund (EPF) holds a 30 per cent stake in Columbia Asia Sdn Bhd. — Bernama

nazrey

November 16th, 2008, 08:54 AM

Columbia labur RM400j bina enam hospital
ARKIB : 15/11/2008
Oleh Daliza Ariffin

http://utusan.com.my/pix/2008/1115/Utusan_Malaysia/Korporat/ko_01.1.jpg

Mohd. Redza Shah Abdul Wahid (kiri) bertukar dokumen
perjanjian dengan Rick Evans di Kuala Lumpur, semalam.

KUALA LUMPUR 14 Nov. - Columbia Asia Sdn. Bhd. (Columbia) bercadang melabur lebih RM400 juta untuk membangunkan enam buah hospital dalam tempoh 12 bulan akan datang.

Pengerusi Columbia Asia Group of Companies, Rick Evans berkata, tiga daripada hospital itu akan dibiayai sebahagiannya melalui pembiayaan bersindiket dari tiga buah bank tempatan iaitu Bank Muamalat Malaysia Bhd. (Bank Muamalat), Bank Kerjasama Rakyat Malaysia Bhd. (Bank Rakyat) dan RHB Islamic Bank Bhd.

Evans berkata, pembiayaan yang diperoleh dan dimuktamadkan hari ini oleh tiga buah bank itu berjumlah RM116 juta.

Beliau menambah, jumlah itu juga digunakan untuk membiayai 58 peratus daripada keseluruhan nilai projek tiga hospital yang bernilai RM225 juta.

''Baki pembiayaan tiga lagi buah hospital itu akan menggunakan dana dalaman,'' katanya.

Beliau berkata demikian selepas majlis menandatangani perjanjian pembiayaan Komoditi Murabahah/Tawarruq-i dan Al- Ijarah Thumma Al Bai antara Bank Muamalat, Bank Rakyat dan RHB Islamic Bank dengan Columbia, di sini hari ini.

Turut hadir ialah Ketua Pegawai Eksekutif Bank Muamalat, Datuk Mohd. Redza Shah Abdul Wahid, Pengurus Besar Perbankan Komersial Bank Rakyat, Datuk Mohamed Arsad Sehan dan Pengarah Urusan RHB Islamic, Jamelah Jamaluddin.

Menurut Evans, tiga hospital yang dibiayai melalui pembiayaan akan dibina di Balakong dan Bukit Rimau, Selangor serta Setapak, di sini.

Tiga lagi projek hospital yang dicadangkan pada masa depan ialah di Kota Damansara, Selangor; Nusajaya, Johor dan Bintulu, Sarawak.

Beliau berkata, syarikat itu kini memiliki lima hospital yang menawarkan perkhidmatan terbaik kepada golongan berpendapatan sederhana iaitu di Taiping, Perak; Seremban, Negeri Sembilan; Shah Alam dan Puchong di Selangor dan Miri, Sarawak.

Katanya, Columbia yang dimiliki 30 peratus oleh Kumpulan Wang Simpanan Pekerja (KWSP) itu kini menjadi pilihan syarikat insurans dan majikan yang kini menyumbang kira-kira 60 peratus kepada perolehan kumpulan.

Selain Malaysia, Columbia Asia mempunyai lapan buah hospital di empat negara Asia iaitu di India, Vietnam, Sri Lanka dan Indonesia yang akan ditambah bilangan hospital secara keseluruhannya kepada 35 buah menjelang akhir tahun 2010.

rizalhakim

November 17th, 2008, 06:31 AM

Free transport to hospitals, clinics for old folks

BANGI: Senior citizens in registered day care centres will soon get free transport to hospitals and clinics.

A Senior Citizen Caring Unit that will provide free transport for senior citizens to hospitals and clinics for medical checkup and treatment was launched by the Women, Family and Community Development Ministry on Saturday.

Its minister, Datuk Seri Dr Ng Yen Yen, said that for a start, 11 vans, which had been modified to meet the needs of the senior citizens, would be provided to old folks in registered day care centres nationwide.

She said it would be handled by the Central Welfare Council of Peninsular Malaysia (MPKSM).

"If the unit succeeds in carrying out its role, the number of vehicles will be increased to meet the needs of senior citizens in the country," she told reporters after launching the unit and the national-level Senior Citizens Day.

She said the ministry had allocated RM1.2 million for the purchase and modification of the vehicles, and RM35,000 a year for their maintenance.

In a related development, Ng reminded operators of welfare-related establishments, like orphanages, old folks home and child care centres, to register with the Social Welfare Department.

"This is to facilitate monitoring by the ministry to ensure the services provided by the centres and homes meet the stipulated requirements and to facilitate channeling of funds, if any, by the ministry," she added.

He said they had until February next year to register their establishments following which action could be taken against them under the Care Centres Act 1993, and if found guilty, could be fined up to RM10,000 or two months jail or both. - Bernama

nazrey

November 19th, 2008, 01:38 AM

KK may get third hospital
Wednesday November 19, 2008
By RUBEN SARIO

KOTA KINABALU: A third hospital is being considered for the state capital as the Health Ministry is mulling over whether to buy the private Sabah Medical Centre (SMC) with a view to turning it into a cardiac centre.

Minister Datuk Liow Tiong Lai said a new general hospital was needed to ease congestion at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH) which would be made a specialist facility.

“We need a referral centre to serve the needs of patients from around Sabah requiring specialist treatment.

“The QEH could take on that role as a tertiary hospital,” he said after visiting the hospital.

Liow said the ministry would be holding further discussions with the state government which had offered land here for a general hospital.

Chief Minister Datuk Musa Aman had made the offer after the QEH main tower block was declared unsafe and patients had to be relocated to other hospitals in the city and nearby districts.

On buying the SMC, he said the ministry was still studying the matter but noted that the state needed a cardiac treatment centre urgently.

“If we build one, it would take at least three to five years. Having a cardiac centre will reduce the need for Sabah heart patients to seek treatment at the National Heart Institute in Kuala Lumpur,” he said.

Liow said that the last of the 119 patients were relocated from the QEH tower block to Likas Hospital, SMC, Damai Medical Centre and the Beaufort and Kuala Penyu hospitals.

rizalhakim

November 19th, 2008, 07:02 AM

PrimaNora bangun 2 projek hartanah

Oleh CYNTHIA YEOH

KUALA LUMPUR 18 Nov. - TH Properties Sdn. Bhd. (TH Properties) telah mengadakan kerjasama dengan PrimaNora Sdn. Bhd. bagi membangunkan dua projek hartanah di Bandar Enstek, Labu di Negeri Sembilan bernilai RM180 juta.

Ketua Pegawai Eksekutif TH Properties, Zaharuddin Saidon berkata, dua projek tersebut membabitkan pembinaan banglo Resort Living Enstek dan Hospital Wanita dan Kanak-Kanak dengan masing-masing bernilai RM30 juta dan RM150 juta.

Katanya, pembinaan projek Resort Living Enstek seluas 12.14 hektar akan bermula pada Jun 2009 dan dijangka siap sepenuhnya menjelang akhir tahun 2010.

''Projek yang terdiri daripada unit-unit banglo bernilai antara RM500,000 hingga RM1 juta disasarkan kepada warga emas.

''Ia menyediakan kediaman yang mesra, selamat dan dilengkapi dengan kemudahan dan perkhidmatan penjagaan kesihatan moden serta program sosial, pendidikan dan kebudayaan," katanya.

Beliau berkata demikian selepas menandatangani perjanjian dengan PrimaNora yang diwakili oleh Pengasas dan Pengerusi Eksekutifnya, Datuk Dr. Nor Ashikin Mokhtar.

Menurut Zaharuddin, bagi projek Hospital Wanita dan Kanak-Kanak pula, pihaknya telah mengenal pasti beberapa lokasi di ibu kota dan Bandar Enstek.

''Kami masih mengkaji lokasi berkenaan dan kami juga terbuka kepada cadangan mana-mana pihak yang berminat ataupun melihat juga kepada permintaan pengguna," ujarnya.

Tambahnya, tumpuan TH Properties bukan kepada Bandar Enstek sahaja malah turut mengenal pasti beberapa tempat di Pulau Pinang, Ipoh, Perak, Johor dan Langkawi.

''Walaupun projek ini pertama kali diwujudkan di Malaysia, tetapi kami yakin kejayaannya mampu dicapai berdasarkan pelaksanaan yang dilakukan di negara-negara lain seperti Australia," jelasnya.

Beliau juga berkata, terdapat lagi beberapa projek di bawah perjanjian itu yang melibatkan pembinaan Pusat Kesejahteraan Kesihatan, Kemudahan Penjagaan Kesihatan Pakar dan Program Kesihatan Haji Komprehensif.

''Kami akan terus berusaha menyediakan perkhidmatan hartanah menyeluruh bagi memenuhi keperluan pengguna dan meningkatkan kualiti gaya hidup mereka," katanya.

Ditanya sama ada krisis kewangan global menjejaskan kerjasama itu, beliau berkata, ia tidak akan memberi kesan kerana industri kesihatan adalah kalis kegawatan.

''Selain itu, orang ramai perlu bersedia untuk berdepan dengan pelbagai cabaran apabila usia meningkat," ujar beliau.

Sementara itu, Nor Ashikin berkata, projek itu menawarkan beberapa program kepada warga emas supaya mereka berasa masih diperlukan selain menyumbang khidmat kepada masyarakat.

rizalhakim

November 19th, 2008, 09:01 AM

TH Properties to provide healthcare at Bandar Enstek

Email us your feedback at fd@bizedge.com

KUALA LUMPUR: Lembaga Tabung Haji’s property arm TH Properties Sdn Bhd and Primanora Sdn Bhd, will provide healthcare services in its flagship project at Bandar Enstek in Negri Sembilan for the aged and elderly.

“Besides healthcare services, the first phase of the development, Resort Living@enstek, will also offer various social, cultural and educational activities for residents,” TH Properties’ chief executive Zaharuddin Saidon told reporters after signing a memorandum of understanding here yesterday.

He added that the development would be on a 12ha land in Bandar Enstek, with a gross development value (GDV) of RM30 million. Construction will start in June 2009 and is scheduled for completion within two years. Bandar Enstek is a RM9.2 billion township which will spread over 2,000ha when fully completed in 2025.

“There will be about 60 units of bungalows in the area, which cost RM500,000 to RM1 million per unit. We are targeting the elderly of 60 years old and above,” Zaharuddin said, adding that it was also looking to provide similar services to the elderly in Ipoh and Penang.

Besides the Resort Living@enstek, the property developer is also eyeing suitable locations in Bandar Enstek and Kuala Lumpur to develop its second healthcare project — Women & Children’s Hospital — with a GDV of RM150 million.

“The demand for the hospital will be in Kuala Lumpur and a decision will be made in the next couple of months,” he said.

rizalhakim

November 27th, 2008, 02:59 AM

KPJ may buy abandoned hospital in Klang
By Vasantha GanesanPublished: 2008/11/27

KPJ Healthcare Bhd (5878) , Malaysia's largest hospital chain, is said to be in talks to buy an abandoned hospital project in Klang, Selangor.

Sources told Business Times that officials from KPJ and the property developer have met but a decision has yet to be made.

The hospital, known as Bandar Baru Klang Medical Centre, is owned by Greenbelt View Sdn Bhd, a wholly-owned subsidiary of PNSB Acmar Sdn Bhd.

PNSB Acmar Sdn Bhd is a joint-venture company between Permodalan Negri Selangor Bhd and Acmar Sdn Bhd.
"The board has requested for more information before it can finalise any purchase of the hospital," a source said.

The source added that given that the hospital is a decade old, KPJ would need to check the structure of the hospital and the validation of building plans before it decides to buy it.

KPJ has 18 hospitals in Malaysia, three in Indonesia, one in Bangladesh and two in Saudi Arabia. In October, it announced a proposal to buy the Pusat Pakar Kluang Utama Sdn Bhd for RM12 million.

KPJ's managing director Datin Paduka Siti Sa'diah Sheikh Bakir could not be reached for comment.

In 2000, Landmarks Bhd was said to have entered a deal to buy Bandar Baru Klang Medical Centre for RM120 million. This deal, however, fell through.

Based on previous reports, the Klang-based property developer had planned to build the medical centre at an initial estimated cost of RM71 million. Works on the hospital started in the mid-1990s and were expected to complete before the end of 1997.

The hospital, planned to be built on a 1.08ha site, was to have a six-storey block with 200 beds. It should also have space for another 100 beds.

However, the plan was put on hold during the 1997/1998 economic downturn.

The hospital was prepared to provide a state-of-the-art facility offering a number of specialist services including cardiology, dermatology, psychiatry, paediatrics and general surgery.

Meanwhile, in April, it was reported that Johor Land Bhd will build a 250-bed specialist hospital within Bandar Dato Onn, Johor, that will be managed by KPJ.

To be ready in 2010, the hospital is estimated to cost RM250 million to build and equip. It is positioned to offer the latest facilities.

Together with the hospital, a nursing college called Puteri Nursing College and a retirement home will be built in the township.

rizalhakim

November 28th, 2008, 06:21 AM

College to offer degree in nursing
By ROSLINA MOHAMAD

KUANTAN: A memorandum of agreement was signed between Kolej Shahputra and University of Hertfordshire (UH) from England to pave the way for the private college to offer a nursing science degree course.

Kolej Shahputra was represented by its executive chairman Datuk Dr Azman Zaini Abdul Ghanie and managing director Datin Suzieyati Idham and UH by its vice-chancellor Prof Tim Wilson and health and human sciences dean Lyn Karstadt.

According to the college’s marketing and corporate development director Norhisyam Ab Rahman, the agreement was signed in early November and they were awaiting the approval of the Malaysian Quality Agency (MQA).

“Once the approval is obtained, the course can be offered to students. The first intake is expected in June next year. It is open to up to 50 students,” he said in an interview.

He added that the two-year degree course would be open to those with diplomas and a few years of working experience.

“It is a way for them to enhance their skills in nursing and keep abreast with modern technology,” Norhisyam said.

He also said that UH would provide the syllabus, examination questions and lecturers.

“The lecturers will be flown in from England. This shows the commitment that UH and Kolej Shahputra have in ensuring quality education,” he added.

He said the collaboration was seen as a recognition for Kolej Shahputra, which had similar cooperation with universities such as Universiti Putra Malaysia and Australia’s Flinders University.

Kolej Shahputra currently managed two nursing diploma programmes, said Norhisyam, adding that one was in collaboration with Universiti Teknologi Mara and the other an in-house programme.

The programmes were recognised by the Higher Education Ministry’s Malaysian Nursing Board and MQA, he added.

Parents and students need not worry about the programmes offered by the college, he said.

rizalhakim

December 1st, 2008, 11:22 AM

AZRB gets RM115m govt hospital govt job

KUALA LUMPUR: Ahmad Zaki Resources Bhd has secured a RM115.06mil contract to build the maternity specialist complex at the Kuala Terengganu hospital.

AZRB said on Monday its unit Ahmad Zaki Sdn Bhd had received the letter of award from the Public Works Department for the project last Friday.

“The works are to be completed within 156 weeks, that is commencing from Dec 18 this year to Dec 14, 2011,” it said.

AZRB said the project was expected to contribute positively to the group’s earnings and the net tangible assets for the financial years ending 2009 to 2011.

rizalhakim

December 2nd, 2008, 04:48 AM

Expert: New tower block is the best option for hospital
By MUGUNTAN VANAR

KOTA KINABALU: Constructing a new tower block will be the best option for the Queen Elizabeth Hospital as it is more cost-effective.

Ikram (Sabah) Sdn Bhd executive director Vincent Tan, whose company was hired to assess the safety of the building, saiddemolishing the 10-storey block and putting up a new building would cost RM24.58mil compared to repairing it for RM23.76mil.

Tan said rehabilitating the building, which has been affected by corrosion due to the use of poorly cleaned sea sand in the concrete mix, would only give it a 10-year lease of life, compared with putting up a new building which is also built to withstand earthquakes.

The forum, moderated by Sabah Health Department director Dr Marzukhi Md Isa, was to answer public calls for temporary repairs on the current tower block for continued usage pending the completion of two twin-tower blocks at the hospital.

Various services from the tower block ranging from operating theatres and wards have been moved to other government and private hospitals as a temporary move following the decision to abandon the tower block and demolish it.

Tan said that thorough investigation into the various structures of the building found that the tower, which was meant to have a lifespan of 50 years, was already suffering “ageing problems at the age 27 due to stress”.

However, he dismissed claims that the tower was tilting, adding that repairing the building would also involve shifting out all staff and services as it could not be done hygienically within a working ward.

Dr Marzukhi also said that the staff at the tower block felt unsafe as they had experienced many incidents of falling concrete debris.

“We cannot wait for an accident to happen before taking action,” he said.

Queen Elizabeth Hospital continues to provide specialist treatment, emergency services and admissions and has also set up a temporary intensive care unit.

Surgeries are being done at both the Likas Hospital and Sabah Medical Centre for now, Dr Marzukhi said.

He added that free shuttle services from the Queen Elizabeth Hospital to the Likas Hospital and Sabah Medical Centre are provided for the public.

rizalhakim

December 2nd, 2008, 09:13 AM

KPJ Healthcare yakin mampu raih lebih RM1b

Oleh ARIF NIZAM ABDULLAH

JOHOR BAHRU 1 Dis. – KPJ Healthcare Bhd. (KPJ Healthcare), penyedia penjagaan kesihatan terbesar negara yakin mengekalkan pendapatan melebihi RM1 bilion bagi tahun kewangan 2008 walaupun berdepan dengan krisis kewangan global.

Pengerusinya, Tan Sri Muhammad Ali Hashim berkata, keputusan tersebut bakal mengulangi pencapaian paling cemerlang dalam sejarah 27 tahun kumpulan itu yang dicapai pada tahun lalu.

Katanya: “Tahun ini, kami menjangkakan pendapatan syarikat akan meningkat lagi. Keyakinan kami berdasarkan penambahan hospital baru seperti di Taiping, Perak pada tahun lalu dan di Kluang, Johor pada tahun ini yang tidak diambil kira pada tahun 2007,’’

“Walaupun terdapat kelembapan ekonomi ketika ini, kami yakin penjagaan kesihatan merupakan satu industri yang cukup penting dan masyarakat akan terus berbelanja pada masa depan,” katanya.

Beliau berkata demikian selepas merasmikan Persidangan Perubatan Tahunan Kali Kelapan KPJ Healthcare di sini, hari ini. Turut hadir, Pengarah Urusan KPJ Healthcare, Datin Siti Sa‘adiah Sheikh Bakir.

Tahun lalu, anak syarikat Johor Corporation (JCorp.) mencatatkan peningkatan pendapatan sebanyak 33 peratus kepada RM1.108 bilion berbanding RM831.5 juta pada 2006.

Pada masa ini, KPJ Healthcare mengendalikan 25 hospital yang mana 19 hospital terletak di negara ini manakala tiga lagi di Indonesia, dua di Jeddah, Arab Saudi dan satu di Dhaka, Bangladesh.

Muhammad Ali berkata, KPJ Healthcare turut bercadang membuka dua hospital pada tahun depan dalam usaha mengembangkan lagi pembabitan syarikat itu dalam bidang pelaburan hartanah.

Jelasnya, lokasi hospital berkenaan ialah di Kuala Lumpur dan Pulau Pinang yang kini dalam proses akhir kerja-kerja pembinaannya.

“Hospital Pakar KPJ Penang yang terletak di Seberang Perai dijangka mula beroperasi pada Mac depan manakala Hospital Pakar Tawakal di Kuala Lumpur pula selewat-lewatnya pertengahan tahun depan.

“Jumlah pelaburan bagi kedua-dua hospital ini mencecah RM200 juta dan ia diramal mampu membawa perubahan besar kepada kumpulan menerusi tahap kualiti tinggi berdasarkan pembinaannya bukan lagi di rumah kedai,” katanya.

Beliau berkata, pembinaan hospital-hospital baru itu dibiayai oleh Amanah Pelaburan Hartanah (REIT) Al-Aqar KPJ (REIT Al-Aqar) agar pelaburan yang dilakukan syarikat dapat ditebus kembali dengan cepat.

Katanya, REIT Al-Aqar bakal melepasi sasaran saiz keseluruhan aset bernilai RM1 bilion tidak lama lagi melalui pembelian aset daripada KPJ Healthcare.

Al-Aqar merupakan REIT Penjagaan Kesihatan Islam pertama di Malaysia dan juga merupakan satu daripada dua REIT Islam di negara ini.

nazrey

December 2nd, 2008, 09:18 PM

BP Healthcare plans expansion
By Vasantha Ganesan
Published: 2008/12/03

LITTLE-known, one-stop healthcare service provider, BP Healthcare Group, plans to invest RM300 million over the next two years to expand and upgrade its diagnostic centres.

The 26-year-old Perak-based company operates 25 diagnostics centres and 44 laboratories. It also runs wholesale and retail pharmacy services, clinical information technology solutions and food and industrial testing.

The company is also keen to own and manage hospitals.

BP Healthcare is looking at doubling the number of its diagnostics centres to 50 by 2010 and upgrade some of the existing ones. A total of RM200 million will go towards this.

"We are targeting to have 50 diagnostics centres by 2010 and upgrade some of our existing diagnostics centres to a specialist diagnostic centre," group managing director Poh Bee Kuan said.

The diagnostics centres offer services like digital x-ray, biopsy, audiometry and ultrasound imaging. A specialist diagnostics centre will provide more specialised services.

It will also open a new operational headquarters in Glenmarie, Selangor, in the first quarter of 2009.

"The cost of the building and equipment is around RM40 million. It will be a state-of-the-art facility with centralised laboratories, a wholesale pharmacy, a training centre for staff and a research and development unit," Poh said.

Another RM50 million has been allocated for the expansion of its existing facility in Ipoh.

The RM300 million investment, however, does not include its expansion into hospitals.

"We are also looking at buying medical centres or hospitals ... we prefer to buy to grow our business faster, as building a hospital could take years," she said.

Asked if the group had earmarked any date to move into the business, she said: "As soon as there is a potential."

BP Healthcare was founded in 1982 by Datuk Beh Chu Chuan in Ipoh, Perak. The Ipoh headquarters includes a diagnostics centre and a laboratory spreading over 0.4ha land.

nazrey

December 2nd, 2008, 09:36 PM

Ahmad Zaki lands RM115m contract
02-12-2008: By Yantoultra Ngui Yichen

KUALA LUMPUR: Ahmad Zaki Resources Bhd’s wholly owned unit Ahmad Zaki Sdn Bhd has landed a RM115.06 million worth of construction works from Public Works Department to build a maternity specialist complex in Kuala Terengganu Hospital, Terengganu.

The construction firm said yesterday the project, which is expected to complete on Dec 14, 2011, would contribute positively to the its earnings and net tangible assets from the fiscal year 2009 ending Dec 31, 2009 (FY09) to FY11.

Ahmad Zaki, trading at a price-to-earnings ratio of 7.7 times, closed 0.5 sen or 1.08% at 46 sen with a total of 28,000 shares changing hands yesterday. The counter reached its 52-week high of RM1.93 on Dec 26, 2007 while its low was 36 sen on Oct 29, 2008.

rizalhakim

December 12th, 2008, 07:29 AM

Hospital Tuanku Jaafar sedia bas shuttle

SEREMBAN 11 Dis. - Hospital Tuanku Jaafar (HTJ) Seremban kini menyediakan perkhidmatan bas secara percuma kepada orang ramai yang ingin berurusan di hospital tersebut.

Pengarah Kesihatan negeri, Dr. Zainal Ariffin Omar berkata, perkhidmatan bas itu merupakan salah satu daripada inisiatif yang disediakan untuk meningkatkan mutu perkhidmatan di HTJ.

"Dengan adanya perkhidmatan ini ia akan memudahkan pelawat serta pesakit datang untuk membuat rawatan di hospital ini.

"Pada masa akan datang kita akan sentiasa meningkatkan mutu perkhidmatan demi keselesaan orang ramai," katanya ketika ditemui pada Majlis Penyerahan Bas Shuttle dan Pelancaran Rasmi Perkhidmatan Bas Awam Percuma HTJ Seremban.

Ia disempurnakan oleh Pengerusi Jawatankuasa Bertindak Kesihatan Sains, Teknologi dan Inovasi negeri, Datuk Ismail Taib, di sini semalam.

Sementara itu, Ismail berkata, orang ramai sebelum ini menggunakan ambulans yang diubahsuai sebagai van pergi balik ketika berurusan di hospital berkenaan.

Katanya, perkhidmatan van yang bermula pada 2005 lalu terpaksa dihentikan sementara pada 2006 kerana sering mengalami kerosakan dan kini perkhidmatan itu disambung semula tahun ini dengan menggunakan bas.

"Antara faktor perkhidmatan ini disediakan adalah kerana kedudukan bangunan hospital di atas bukit dan tempat letak kereta awam yang jauh serta terhad.

''Bas ini boleh memuatkan seramai 25 orang dan memulakan perkhidmatan seawal pukul 7 pagi dan berakhir pada pukul 6 petang setiap hari hari kecuali pada Sabtu dan Ahad serta cuti umum,'' katanya.

rizalhakim

December 15th, 2008, 07:18 AM

KPJ to add 2-3 more hospitals next year
by Yantoultra Ngui Yichen
Email us your feedback at fd@bizedge.com

KUALA LUMPUR: KPJ Healthcare Bhd, the country’s largest listed healthcare group, is looking to add two or three new specialist hospitals next year to its stable of 18 local and six overseas hospitals.

Despite the economic slowdown, the Main Board company was looking at building new hospitals or acquiring existing ones to expand its network, said its managing director Datin Paduka Siti Sa’diah Sheikh Bakir.

“Some hospitals are talking to us but we haven’t finalised anything. We are still talking and it may include building new hospitals with third party,” she told The Edge Financial Daily.

KPJ recently proposed to acquire the 30-bed Pusat Pakar Kluang Utama for RM12 million. On how much the group was willing to commit to new hospitals next year, Siti Sa’diah said: “We are open.”

As of Sept 30, 2008, the group’s cash and cash equivalents stood at RM89.42 million while its current and long-term borrowings stood at RM25.66 million and RM356.09 million, respectively. Shareholders’ funds stood at RM611 million and net assets per share at RM2.69.

Analysts look favourably on the healthcare sector, which although not entirely recession-proof, is expected to be resilient in an economic slowdown, due to population growth, higher education level and socio-economic development.

Research houses SJ Securities, OSK Research, Affin Securities and Standard & Poor’s all called a buy on KPJ.

“It (healthcare sector) is not recession-proof but is more resilient to market and economic conditions. If the economy is not doing good, there may be fewer people getting insurance.

“But sickness is unavoidable; maybe people won’t go for cosmetic surgery or elective orthopaedics but in emergencies, people will still come,” said Siti Sa’diah, who has been an independent director of Bursa Malaysia Bhd since 2004 and a board member of Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (Matrade) since 1999.

Siti Sa’diah said KPJ also targeted to manage at least one more overseas private hospital next year. It manages one hospital in Bangladesh, three in Indonesia and two in Saudi Arabia.

The group employs 650 specialists and 7,000 staff. Its doctors are residents with the group. KPJ also runs a private nursing centre, which has trained up to 3,000 nurses.

Siti Sa’diah noted that the group’s large network of specialist hospitals gave KPJ the advantage of economies of scale, readily available specialists, trainers and staff, as well as integrated information technology (IT) systems and medical equipment system.

Siti Sa’diah said besides optimising KPJ’s cash hoard by building and acquiring new hospitals, the group would also invest in buying and upgrading IT systems and medical equipment.

“Next year, we want four more (of our hospitals) to be accredited by the MSQH (Malaysian Society for Quality in Health),” she said. Of its local hospitals, five are accredited by MSQH.

An MSQH accreditation is said to enhance community confidence and favourably influence liability insurance premium and managed care contract decisions.

Siti Sa’diah said KPJ spends RM20 million to RM30 million annually to upgrade medical equipment and another RM40 million to RM50 million a year on physical development, which includes building new hospitals and expand existing ones.

The group has strategised to be asset-light and under sale and leaseback arrangements, has so far disposed of 11 hospital buildings to AL-’AQAR KPJ Reit, in which KPJ holds a 52.1% stake.

It has also proposed to sell and lease back the remaining seven hospital buildings and the nursing college for RM296.4 million to be settled via RM179.53 million cash and 123.03 million REIT units at 95 sen each.

For its third quarter ended Sept 30, 2008, KPJ’s net profit climbed 14.3% to RM21.3 million from RM18.6 million a year earlier on the back of a 14.8% increase in revenue to RM329.7 million from RM287.2 million.

Siti Sa’diah said the group would be able to conclude the fiscal year ending Dec 31, 2008 (FY08) better than the previous year due to a higher number of inpatients, expanded network and increased efficiency.

KPJ recorded a net profit of RM77.79 million on the back of RM1.11 billion revenue in FY07. Analysts’ consensus net profit forecast for FY08 and FY09 averaged RM79.3 million and RM97 million, respectively.

Based on the number of outpatients and admissions in the first nine months, Siti Sa’diah said KPJ was expected to have served an estimated 1.98 million patients in 2008 with 220,000 admissions, an increase of more than 10% from last year’s figure.

“November was a very good month for us. I anticipate that we can end 10% more (in terms of number of patients) this year, and next year we can sustain that 10% increase,” she said.

Siti Sa’diah said the group expected its Kajang Specialist Hospital to break even this year. The gestation period for its future new hospitals was also expected to shorten to less than two years, as proven by its Seremban Specialist Hospital which took only 18 to 20 months to break even.

Meanwhile, she said KPJ aimed to enhance its profit margin by improving efficiency via new and upgraded IT systems, medical equipment and economies of scale.

“We want to look at more than 10% net profit margin, not through revenue increase but efficiency and economies of scale,” she said.

Shares of KPJ, trading at a price-to-earnings ratio of 5.9 times, closed four sen, or 1.47%, lower at RM2.68 last Friday with 27,000 shares changing hands. The counter reached its 52-week high of RM3.70 on June 6, 2008 while its low was RM2.23 on Oct 29, 2008.

nazrey

December 15th, 2008, 08:45 PM

Kedah Medical Centre
Alor Star, Kedah

http://img03.picoodle.com/img/img03/3/12/15/f_11m_ca0edc1.jpg

chankuholokhanki

December 15th, 2008, 08:52 PM

Nice

nazrey

December 16th, 2008, 05:32 AM

Tuanku Fauziah Hospital Receives MSQH Accreditation
December 13, 2008 21:08 PM

KANGAR, Dec 13 (Bernama) -- Tuanku Fauziah Hospital (TFH) today received accreditation from the Malaysian Society for Quality in Health (MSQH) for its healthcare services.

It was presented by Perlis Health director Dr Mahani Yusof to TFH director Datuk Dr Faiz Ahmad Khan, in conjunction with the TFH Open Day, Saturday.

The presentation was witnessed by Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Mohd Isa Sabu.

"The accreditation is indeed our proudest achievement as it is like the accreditation given to hospitals in developed countries. It also proves that we are able to be on par with the best hospitals, not only in Malaysia but also in the world," Dr Faiz told reporters here.

The accreditation is valid for three years from April 10, 2008 to April 11, 2011.

Meanwhile, Mohd Isa also launched the RM173 million project to build a block of multi-discipline wards for TFH with the state-of-the-art facilities and equipment.

THF, which is 100 years old, has 33 medical specialists. The new block is expected to be ready by November 2011.

-- BERNAMA

rizalhakim

December 16th, 2008, 05:35 AM

Golf event raises RM130,000 for hospital
THE Natoleo Charity Golf 2008 recently held at the Tanjung Puteri Golf Resort in Pasir Gudang raised RM130,000 for the Waqaf An-Nur Hospital.

http://www.nst.com.my/JohorBuzz/Tuesday/Stories/2427210/insidepix1?display=small
ROYAL GUEST: Johor Corporation chief executive officer Tan Sri Muhammad Ali Hashim (right) presenting a souvenir to Tunku Bendahara Johor Tunku Abdul Majid Idris at Tanjung Puteri Golf Resort in Pasir Gudang.
The hospital in Pasir Gudang is a 30-bed charity hospital which is the first of its kind in Malaysia, offering free services for the poor.

Tunku Bendahara Johor Tunku Abdul Majid Idris graced the event.

Since the hospital opened on June 18, 2006, it has treated more than 130,000 patients in its outpatient wards, and close to 20,000 have been warded or admitted to the Intensive Care Unit.

Also present at the tournament which attracted over 100 golfers were Johor Corporation chief executive officer Tan Sri Muhammad Ali Hashim and Pasir Gudang Municipal Council president Lukman Abu Bakar.

Abdul Wahab Taib was the top golfer in the "A" division. He won a Sony Hi-Fi worth RM1,050 while Zulkifli Ibrahim came in second and walked away with a Sony camera worth RM800.

Nor Azmi Akob, named the best gross winner, walked away with a Samsung 32-inch LCD TV worth RM1,800 while Roszali Baharuddin won a Sony home theatre system worth RM1,150 for coming in second.

rizalhakim

December 16th, 2008, 06:23 AM

Pusat Neurosains diwujudkan di HUSM

KOTA BHARU 15 Dis. – Sebuah pusat Neurosains yang pertama di rantau ini akan diwujudkan di Hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia (HUSM) di sini, sejajar dengan pengiktirafannya sebagai universiti berstatus Program Pemacu Untuk Kecemerlangan (APEX).

Menteri Pengajian Tinggi, Datuk Mohamed Khaled Nordin berkata, projek tersebut merupakan sebahagian daripada cadangan yang dikemukakan oleh universiti tersebut semasa membentangkan kertas kerja untuk dipertimbangkan dalam program APEX.

‘‘Selepas USM berjaya dengan status APEX, kementerian mengambil kira setiap cadangan yang dikemukakan untuk dilaksanakan termasuk pembinaan pusat Neurosains di hospitalnya di sini,” katanya.

Beliau berkata demikian pada sidang akhbar selepas merasmikan Sambutan Ulang Tahun ke-25 HUSM di sini hari ini.

Hadir sama Pengerusi Lembaga Pengarah USM, Tan Sri Dr. Ani Arope; Naib Canselor USM, Prof. Tan Sri Datuk Dzulkifli Abd Razak; Pengarah HUSM, Dr. Zaidon Kamari dan Pengarah Kampus Kesihatan, Datuk Prof. Mafauzy Mohamed.

Di USM, Jabatan Neurosains Pusat Pengajian Sains Perubatan ditubuhkan secara rasmi pada 17 Ogos 2000 (selepas dinaik taraf daripada unit Neurosains) dan ia terus berkembang dengan Penubuhan Makmal Pengajaran dan Penyelidikan Neurosains pada 12 Februari 2006.

Ia bagi meningkatkan lagi aktiviti penyelidikan yang dijalankan melibatkan kajian fisiologi memori dan ingatan, kanser otak, kecederaan otak, perubatan neuro regenerasi, psikologi, biokimia strok, epilepsi, pemakanan dan apoptosis.

rizalhakim

December 17th, 2008, 09:23 AM

Sime Darby eyes IJN
by Lim Shie-Lynn
Email us your feedback at fd@bizedge.com

KUALA LUMPUR: Sime Darby Bhd has expressed interest in taking over the National Heart Institute, or Institut Jantung Negara (IJN), a move that has met with objections from the ministry of health, sources said.

It is learnt that the ministry of finance (MoF), which owns IJN, has submitted a proposal for the privatisation of the hospital to the cabinet. Health industry officials are not surprised by the MoF’s move as the ministry had sent out feelers to government-linked companies to gauge the interest in such an exercise.

Sources said that both Health Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai and his deputy Datuk Dr Abdul Latiff Ahmad do not agree to the proposed divestment.

“They do not agree to this sale unless there is a safety net for the poor and the underprivileged. Their needs have to be taken care of. And the time is not right,” said a source.

Sources said Sime Darby’s interest and the positive reception from the MoF do not in any way mean that a deal is certain.

“It’s a preliminary exploration. There is still a long way to go as there are a lot of things to be ironed out,” said one of the sources.

One of the concerns is whether IJN’s charges would increase should it be taken over by a private corporation.

Considering IJN is a quasi-government hospital, its fees are regulated by the government, offering first-class medical treatment at below market rate. Also, all government hospitals have referred their heart patients to IJN, providing it a steady stream of patients and income.

However, it is learnt that even if Sime Darby takes over the hospital, there would be conditions put in place to ensure that the charges are regulated and IJN does not lose sight of its social obligations.

“The government would still dictate the treatment price for patients. It would be business as usual for the heart centre,” the source said.

The conglomerate’s entry into the cardio centre is not necessarily a bad idea as IJN would be able to retain its team of doctors and specialists given that the centre would be backed by the cash-rich Sime Darby.

“Many of IJN’s doctors are leaving because the remuneration is not attractive enough. With Sime Darby in the picture, the doctors would be better paid and government hospitals would still be able to train their doctors there as well,” an industry source said.

According to IJN’s website, the heart centre has a staff strength of more than 1,000. There are 85 cardiologists, cardiothoracic surgeons, paediatric cardiologists and anaesthe-tists. It also has close to 500 nurses.

To manage its growing operations, IJN has embarked on an expansion plan. It is building a new wing which is scheduled for completion next year.

The new wing would give it an additional 192 beds, four new operating theatre complexes, new intensive care units and coronary care units, dialysis centre, health screening centres, cafes and shops, according to the website.

A source said it was likely that Sime Darby would be allowed to set up a private wing in IJN.

IJN, which specialises in cardiovascular and thoracic cases, was part of the Kuala Lumpur Hospital. In 2005, it was placed under IJN Holdings Sdn Bhd, which is 99.99% owned by the Minister of Finance Inc.

Sime Darby’s interest in IJN ties in with plans to expand its healthcare business. Sime Darby Healthcare’s (SDH) supervisory committee chairman and Sime Darby board member Tan Sri Wan Zahid Noordin was quoted as saying the healthcare arm was geared up to grow its business, with the focus on specialist treatment and training.

The healthcare division contributed RM20 million in earnings for FY08. SDH runs a medical centre, a specialist centre and a nursing college.

According to filings made to the Companies Commission of Malaysia, IJN posted a revenue of RM287.3 million last year, up 11.7% from RM257.5 million in 2006. However, net profit was lower at RM13.6 million against RM22 million previously.

Since its establishment, IJN has earned a reputation as a leading centre for cardiac care in the region. It has treated well over a million patients, including former prime minister Tun Mahathir Mohamad.

nazrey

December 18th, 2008, 05:56 AM

Sime Darby sahkan hasrat beli kepentingan IJN
18 Disember 2008

KUALA LUMPUR 17 Dis. - Sime Darby Bhd. mengesahkan bahawa ia telah menulis surat kepada kerajaan menyatakan hasratnya membeli kepentingan dalam IJN Holdings Sdn. Bhd.

Dalam pengumumannya kepada Bursa Malaysia hari ini, syarikat itu berkata, ia masih menunggu jawapan rasmi daripada kerajaan.

Sime Darby berkata, pelaburan yang dicadangkan itu tertakluk kepada, antara lain, usaha kajian wajar yang dijalankan dengan memuaskan oleh syarikat itu dan kelulusan pihak-pihak berkuasa berkenaan.

Sementara itu, OSK Research Sdn. Bhd., dalam ulasannya berkata minat Sime Darby mengambil alih IJN adalah sejajar dengan misi kumpulan itu untuk memperkukuh perniagaan penjagaan kesihatan swastanya melalui bahagian penjagaan kesihatannya.

Jadi, jika penswastaan itu terlaksana, Sime Darby akan dapat memanfaatkan reputasi dan jenama kukuh IJN, yang akan memudahkan Sime Darby mengembangkan lagi perniagaan penjagaan kesihatannya.

Bagaimanapun, kata OSK, masih banyak yang perlu dilakukan meskipun dengan penerimaan positif daripada Kementerian Kewangan bagi penswastaan IJN, kerana banyak perkara yang perlu dipertimbang sebelum keputusan muktamad dibuat.

OSK berkata, satu perkara yang menjadi persoalan bagi Kementerian Kesihatan ialah sama ada bayaran IJN akan dinaikkan sekiranya ia diambil alih oleh sebuah badan swasta.

Pada asasnya, keputusan muktamad akan bergantung kepada kesan penswastaan IJN ke atas masyarakat umum dan OSK percaya Kementerian Kesihatan akan hanya bersetuju dengan pengambilalihan itu jika ada jaringan keselamatan bagi rakyat miskin dan yang kurang bernasib baik.

Satu struktur yang berkesan diperlukan untuk memastikan pengambilalihan itu menghasilkan situasi menang-menang bagi orang ramai dan juga Sime Darby, tegas OSK.

- Bernama

rizalhakim

December 18th, 2008, 07:08 AM

Sime Darby Confirms Its Interest In Aquiring IJN Stake

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 17 (Bernama) -- Sime Darby Bhd has confirmed that it has written to the government on its interest in acquiring a stake in IJN Holdings Sdn Bhd.

In a filing to Bursa Malaysia on Wednesday, the company said it was still awaiting an official response from the government.

Sime Darby said the proposed investment will be subject to, among others, satisfactory due diligence by the company and the approval of the relevant authorities.

Meanwhile, OSK Research Sdn Bhd in its comments said that Sime Darby's interest in taking over IJN is in line with the group's mission to strengthen its private healthcare business through its healthcare division.

Hence, if the privatisation were to take place, Sime Darby will be able to leverage on IJN's strong brand and reputation, which will make it easier for Sime Darby to further grow its healthcare business.

However, OSK said there was still a long way to go despite the positive reception from the Finance Ministry to privatise IJN, as many issues needed to be considered before a final decision.

OSK said one of the Health Ministry's concerns is whether IJN's charges would be increased should it be taken over by a private corporation.

Basically, the final decision will depend on how the privatisation of IJN is going to impact on broader society and OSK believes that the Health Ministry would only agree to a takeover if there was a safety net for the poor and under-privileged.

A workable structure is needed to ensure that it will be a win-win situation for the general public and Sime Darby, OSK added.

-- BERNAMA

rizalhakim

December 18th, 2008, 09:53 AM

Don’t privatise the National Heart Institute

Some things should never be put up for sale, and that includes IJN

(The question to ask is whether there will be a net benefit to the public or Government from privatising IJN. If there is any reasonable doubt that there will be no net benefit, then the privatisation should simply not be undertaken.)

IT was a wedding party at a five-star hotel in town. Amid all the celebrations, a middle-aged lady suddenly went short of breath, had chest pains and aching of the arms, the classic symptoms of an impending heart attack.

http://biz.thestar.com.my/archives/2008/12/18/business/p2-heartop.JPG
IJN surgeons at work. Having a bypass at a private hospital is likely to be several times the cost if you have it at IJN and the care and competency is likely to be the same or even better at IJN

Someone thought of calling the National Heart Institute or IJN, its Malay acronym, an ambulance was there shortly and the patient delivered to the hospital. She had indeed had a heart attack. Her condition was stabilised.

Within a few days, a stent – a microstructure to hold up the arterial walls – had been put into the affected area through a procedure called angioplasty involving inserting a catheter through the major blood vessels to the heart. And the patient was as good as new – almost.

The total treatment cost – a paltry RM1 - because the husband of the lady was a government servant.

That’s one of many, many examples of those who have been helped by IJN, set up as a separate body from the Kuala Lumpur General Hospital in 1992, three years after then prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad had a heart-bypass operation at the hospital.

IJN became a boon for countless heart patients – not just government servants and their dependents but also many from the private sector who came there for not only its courteous and polite service but also its competence and reasonable charges.

http://biz.thestar.com.my/archives/2008/12/18/business/p1-ijncht.JPG

For many of them, and for large sections of the Malaysian public, the very idea of privatising IJN is shocking because charges will rise to astronomical levels.

The question to ask is whether there will be a net benefit to the public or Government from privatising IJN. If there is any reasonable doubt that there will be no net benefit, then the privatisation should simply not be undertaken.

http://biz.thestar.com.my/archives/2008/12/18/business/p2-ijncht.JPG

Having a bypass at a private hospital is likely to be several times the cost if you had it at IJN and the care and competency is likely to be the same or even better at IJN, especially since the motive will not be mere profit.

Privatisation on the other hand is based purely on the profit motive and to extract for the investor the maximum possible return from the initial outlay. If the private sector can pay a price for IJN, yes, it would benefit the Government. But at what price?

Inevitably rates will go up. If government servants and dependents get free treatment, others will have to be charged more. The only way that profits can be increased substantially is to raise rates.

Look at every privatisation done in the country. Did any company bring down rates because they were more efficient? No.

No profit-motivated private sector organisation should be entrusted with the role of providing affordable healthcare to the public at large.

Let them cater to those who can afford to pay for the services and build up their own capability and service instead of usurping all that the Government has built at its own expense and effort over many years.

The IJN is a unique institution in the annals of government. It has been far more successful than most. It offers courteous and competent service at very reasonable cost and it is one of the best heart centres in the region. Why should the Government give it up?

There are some things that should not be up for sale at any price. Affordable health care for the general public is one of them.

P. Gunasegaram is managing editor of The Star. He thinks some things must never be put up for sale, and that includes IJN at which two people are currently waiting for a heart transplant once donors can be found.

nazrey

December 18th, 2008, 09:22 PM

PM: Take over of IJN only allowed if poor taken care
Updated: Thursday December 18, 2008 MYT 8:13:01 PM

KUALA LUMPUR: The Government will only allow the private sector to take over the National Heart Institute (IJN) if they fulfilled their responsibilities to the poor, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said.

The Prime Minister said there might be good in Sime Darby Bhd’s bid to buy a stake in IJN because with privatisation, more people would have access to treatment despite rising operation and medicine costs.

“It should not matter if the party who wants to take over can give an assurance that the low-income group will be able to seek treatment there and charged reasonable rates,” he said.

“There are criticisms on the move to allow the private sector to buy a stake in IJN, that this will result in a hike in fees.

“At the same time, we have to adapt to changes in the field of medicine and equipment.

“The best experts are also needed, who may need higher remunerations. More beds are also needed.

“All this incur additional costs. The deal depends on many things in the negotiations.

“The Government needs to look into this carefully,” he told reporters at his office in Parliament House on Thursday. K

nazrey

December 18th, 2008, 09:27 PM

No objection to Sime Darby stake in IJN: Najib
Updated: Thursday December 18, 2008 MYT 8:13:02 PM
By ZULKIFLI ABD RAHMAN

KUALA LUMPUR: The Government has no objection in principle to the request by Sime Darby Bhd to acquire a stake in the National Heart Institute (IJN), Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said.

However, he said the company has to keep in mind that social responsibility must take precedence over financial gains.

Najib, who is also Finance Minister, said private companies intending to buy a stake in IJN should give high priority to providing affordable treatment to the poorer segments of society.

He said the Government is studying what IJN’s future role would be if its ownership was to be transferred to the private sector.

The Government under the Minister of Finance Incorporated has 99.99% equity ownership in IJN, which was established in 1992.

“We are in the process of finalising the proposal, although in principle we have no objection to this.

“What I’m looking into is to ensure that the aspect of social responsibility is maintained.

“The private sector must give us a strong commitment that the poor will not be marginalised if IJN is transferred to Sime Darby,” he told reporters after chairing a Cabinet committee meeting on AIDS with Health Ministry officials at Parliament House on Thursday.

In a statement to Bursa Malaysia on Wednesday, Sime Darby said it had written to the Government about its intention to acquire a stake in IJN Holdings Sdn Bhd, which operates the IJN, and was now awaiting for an official response.

The company did not provide details on the size of the stake or the price involved.

Najib said the a positive outcome of the proposal would be that funding would not be an issue, while IJN doctors would be receiving better financial benefits.

“IJN doctors can get higher remuneration at the highest market rate. The institute will not lose its specialists to other hospitals, with new hospitals springing up providing better treatment for heart patients.

“There’s a tendency for these private hospitals to pinch heart doctors from the IJN,” he claimed.

Separately, Health Minister Datuk Liow Tiong Lai also said that the Government would continue to regulate fees at IJN even if the institute were to be privatised, to ensure patients are not overcharged.

Meanwhile, Sime Darby on Thursday gave its assurance that it would maintain the fee structure of IJN to ensure the poor and middle class patients get the same treatment if it takes over the hospital.

rizalhakim

December 19th, 2008, 04:50 AM

Government to regulate fees at IJN even if heart hospital is privatised

KUALA LUMPUR: The National Heart Institute’s (IJN) fees will continue to be regulated by the Govern*ment even if it is privatised.

Health Minister Datuk Liow Tiong Lai said IJN’s present method of operations would also have to continue.

Friendly chat: Liow talking to heart patients Tan (fourth from left) and Chen (fifth from left) during his visit to IJN in Kuala Lumpur yesterday.

“I would like to reiterate that the fee structure is currently set by the Government.

“It will be the same, even in the future, so IJN cannot charge higher than what is allowed by the Govern*ment,” he said when asked of reports of Sime Darby Bhd making a bid for a stake in IJN.

He was speaking to reporters after visiting patients Chen Winnie, 23, and Tan Geek Koon, 40, who are both awaiting donor hearts.

Liow said his ministry would look into the social aspect of the privatisation plans to make sure that the patients’ interests are taken care of.

“There are a lot of Government requirements that they (Sime Darby) will have to fulfil,” he said.

He said that currently about 80% of IJN patients were subsidised by the Government.

Asked if that would continue even with the privatisation, he said: “Yes, that will continue, definitely. That is the prerequisite. It won’t change anything.”

He said the objective for the setting up IJN was very clear, which was to serve Malaysians from all walks of life and IJN would have to continue fulfilling that purpose.

MCA deputy president Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek, however, hoped IJN would not be privatised.

The former Health Minister told a press conference at Wisma MCA here that, apart from promoting Malay*sia’s good name in the eyes of the world, the institute had done a lot in helping the poor in the country.

MIC president Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu said the party hoped that the Government would not privatise IJN.

He said the privatisation would cause hardship to the poor although Sime Darby has assured that it would not burden the poor.

rizalhakim

December 19th, 2008, 04:51 AM

Social obligation comes first

KUALA LUMPUR: The Government will allow the private sector to take over the National Heart Institute (IJN) but they must fulfil their responsibilities to the poor, said Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

The Prime Minister said there might be good in Sime Darby Bhd’s bid to buy a stake. He said that with privatisation more people could benefit from treatment.

“It should not matter if the party which wants to take over can give an assurance that the low-income group will be able to seek treatment there and are charged reasonable rates,” he told a press conference at his office in Parliament yesterday.

He was asked to comment on reports that Sime Darby Bhd was bidding for a stake in IJN.

Abdullah said the Government had to adapt to changes in medicine, especially with changes in the type of equipment used.

“The best experts are also needed and IJN may have to pay them more. IJN also may need more beds.

“All this will incur additional costs. The deal depends on many things in the negotiations,” he said, adding that the Government would look at these factors closely.

Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, who is also Finance Minister, said the Government was in the process of finalising the proposal.

“In principle, we have no objection to this,” he told reporters after chairing a Cabinet committee meeting on AIDS with Health Ministry officials at Parliament yesterday.

“What I’m looking at is to ensure that the aspect of social responsibility will be maintained.

“The private sector must give us a strong commitment that the poor will not be marginalised if IJN is transferred to Sime Darby,” he said.

He said a positive outcome of the proposal would be that funding would not be an issue.

Furthermore, he said IJN doctors would be receiving better financial benefits.

rizalhakim

December 19th, 2008, 04:52 AM

Sime Darby says fees at IJN will stay the same for poor folk

KUALA LUMPUR: Sime Darby Bhd has assured the people that the National Heart Institute’s fee structure and services will remain the same for the poor, middle-class and civil servants if it succeeds in taking it over.

Its president and group chief executive Datuk Seri Ahmad Zubir Murshid said maintaining IJN’s social obligations was not only one of the conditions from the Government but also a demand by his own board of directors.

“When I first presented our proposal to our board a few months ago, they demanded that any takeover must not affect the rakyat,” he told a press conference here yesterday.

He said the board insisted that the proposal ensure that the social services IJN provides at present, especially to the poor and middle-class as well as to the civil servants, would continue.

He said Sime Darby only received a reply from the Economic Planning Unit on its proposal yesterday.

In the letter, he said the Govern*ment has agreed in principle to Sime Darby’s proposal but with three conditions, which are:

> The value of tender must be acceptable;

> Sime Darby must come out with a business plan for IJN; and

> There must be a commitment to continue the social obligations of IJN as provided at present by the Health Ministry.

Asked about the rationale of Sime Darby wanting to take over IJN, Zubir said his company was seeking to buy up 51% of the institute as Sime Darby had a long-term plan to expand its medical services by either acquiring a centre of excellence like IJN or start new ones.

“In this case, it will be a win-win situation because IJN is a very reputable centre in the region and we have the resources to expand its capability,” he said.

He said there would also be a sharing of resources and personnel, such as the IJN using facilities at Subang Jaya Medical Centre.

Zubir also said Sime Darby would help IJN to expand its facilities, including the construction of the new wing.

“When our facilities expand, we will also increase the number of ‘social obligation’ patients,” he added.

Zubir said the company would also establish a second IJN at its Labu Medical City development in Negri Sembilan.

rizalhakim

December 19th, 2008, 04:53 AM

Heart patients worry about costs if company takes over

JOHOR BARU: One of IJN’s more famous heart transplant survivors, Tee Hui Yi, is worried that her family will not be able to afford the follow-up treatment she needs from the hospital.

Hui Yi was also shocked when told about the privatisation plan.

“My father will not be able to pay for my medicine if they wanted to charge us.

“We will be in big trouble if the new management decides to charge us,” she said.

Her 51-year-old father, Tee Ah Soon, said that presently his daughter was eligible for free medication.

“If they decide to start charging, my daughter’s medication will cost RM3,000 each month,” he said, adding that he only earned RM2,000 as a supervisor.

Tee said that besides the free medication, the check-ups that his daughter was going for free now might cost between RM500 to RM600 if they had to pay.

“I cannot afford this if they go private. I am also worried that the charges will be more after privatisation,” he said when contacted.

Fellow heart transplant patient Muhd Fikri Nor Azmi, 18, hoped that there would not be any drastic changes because patients may not be able to cope with them.

“I’ve been an IJN patient for over seven years and I wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for them.

“But if the medical costs increase due to the privatisation, my family would definitely be burdened and we would have to make changes in our finances,” he said.

However, he added that the takeover would be acceptable as long as Sime Darby fulfilled its responsibility to the poor.

Retired businessman K. Arul, 72, who had a bypass surgery at IJN, said he feared for the poor.

He said for the procedure that he underwent in 2004 he would have needed to pay at least RM50,000 if it was done at a private hospital.

However, thanks to his wife, who was a retired government servant, he was able to undergo the surgery for free at IJN.

Arul said that even without privatisation the hospital provided good services.

“They have very concerned staff who always make sure that I get the right medical attention,” he said.

nazrey

December 19th, 2008, 05:07 AM

by mohd salim yunus
Serdang Hospital

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rizalhakim

December 19th, 2008, 07:07 AM

Low fees for poor a govt condition on IJN takeover

KUALA LUMPUR: The poor and needy will be taken care of even if the National Heart Institute is taken over by conglomerate Sime Darby Bhd.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said the government would allow the takeover only if the company gives a guarantee to this effect.

"It is good that the private sector is close to the government and Sime Darby is a GLC (government-linked company).

"However, it all depends whether the services can continue to be enjoyed by the people at low charges.

"If interested parties want to take over and can guarantee the welfare of the people, what's wrong? We can build more hospitals, maybe outside Kuala Lumpur," he said at a press conference at his tower block office at Parliament House yesterday.

He said he understood the concerns of the people over the proposed privatisation.

Abdullah said advances in the medical field meant hospitals needed to have the latest and best equipment, medicine and specialists.

Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak and Health Minister Datuk Liow Tiong Lai have also stated the needs of the poor and needy would not be compromised.

Najib said social responsibility must be given the highest priority and must come before financial gains.

"We are in the process of finalising the matter with the Health Ministry although in principle, we have no objection to their proposal.

"But we are looking at the aspect of corporate social responsibility... They have to give a strong and categorical commitment that the poor will not be marginalised if the transfer happens," he said after chairing the Cabinet Committee on AIDS at Parliament House yesterday.

Najib said privatising IJN would have advantages such as funding.

He said the institute's doctors would also be able to get remuneration at market rates.

"IJN will not lose its specialists and doctors to the competition. With new hospitals springing up, there is a tendency to pinch doctors from IJN," he noted.

Asked whether there were other parties interested in acquiring a stake in IJN, Najib said: "No, not as far as I know."

MP for Rembau Khairy Jamaludin also urged that the hospital continue to serve the poor after privatisation.

He suggested that IJN operate heart hospitals in other areas such as Penang, Johor Baru and Kuching.

Sime Darby's interest in IJN, which is owned by the Ministry of Finance, has been reported by the local media several times but it has given the standard reply that it was waiting for the government to respond.

Sime Darby's interest in IJN had caused ripples of unease among many quarters due to worries that fees would be increased when it is made private.

The fees for IJN patients are subsidised by the government. Built in 1992 at a cost of RM151.5 million, IJN has become the country's premier institution for cardiac treatment. The hospital also underwent a RM230 million expansion programme last year to purchase more equipment and the building of a new wing.

Sime Darby's main healthcare flagship is the Subang Jaya Medical Centre.

rizalhakim

December 19th, 2008, 09:44 AM

IJN: Liow assures fees to be maintained
by Lim Shie-Lynn
Email us your feedback at fd@bizedge.com

KUALA LUMPUR: Health Minister Datuk Liow Tiong Lai said National Heart Institute (IJN) fees would continue to be regulated by the government even after its privatisation.

“The fee structure is currently set by the government. It would be the same, even in the future and IJN cannot charge higher than what is allowed by the government,” Liow said.

Sime Darby Bhd’s planned acquisition of a 51% stake in IJN has raised corcerns among politicians that the heart centre would no longer remain affordable to the general public.

On his visit to IJN yesterday, Liow said social obligations would be a key concern for the ministry and it would ensure that the interest of patients would be looked after.

“The government has clauses that will have to be looked into and there would be a lot of government requirements that Sime Darby has to meet,” he said.

The government’s decision to allow the privatisation of IJN has drawn criticism from former health minister and MCA deputy president Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek.

“IJN is a government institution that the rakyat are proud of. The government should never forget its role to provide affordable healthcare to the public,” he told The Edge Financial Daily over the telephone yesterday.

Asked on the government’s regulation of treatment fees, he said: “That is nonsense. Although the government had said it would continue to regulate IJN’s charges, there are many ways to circumvent these regulations.”

An IJN official, who declined to be identified, said the staff at the heart centre were not certain if there would be operational changes upon privatisation.

“There are too many uncertainties in this privatisation affair,” he said.

rizalhakim

December 19th, 2008, 10:07 AM

Abdullah, Najib in favour of IJN privatisation
by Sharon Tan
Email us your feedback at fd@bizedge.com

KUALA LUMPUR: Both the prime minister and his deputy seemed to have warmed up to the idea of privatising the country’s top heart disease centre, Institut Jantung Negara.

Short of approving the proposed takeover by the world’s largest listed plantation company, Sime Darby Bhd, the top guns agreed that it would be good for IJN.

However, both leaders were equally cautious to remind Sime Darby that should IJN come under them, heart disease treatment for the poor must not be forsaken in the aim to generate profits.

Speaking from his office in parliament yesterday, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said the privatisation will only go through if Sime Darby can guarantee that IJN’s services will still be affordable for the low-income group.

On the uneasiness of various parties, including health ministry officials, pertaining to the deal, Abdullah said the privatisation would not look so bad if Sime Darby were agreeable to maintaining low fees for the poor.

“Perhaps they are concerned that if it is privatised then it would result in costly treatment and medication and the poor would not be able to enjoy it,” said Abdullah.

“On the basis of what I heard, if the matter can be given assurance by quarters that want to take over then there will be less resistance,” said Abdullah, adding that the privatisation would depend on many conditions.

Speaking at parliament in the morning, Datuk Seri Najib Razak agreed that the government has no objections in principle to Sime Darby’s proposal.

“In fact, we are in the process of finalising this together with the Ministry of Health,” said Najib, who is also the finance minister.

“Although in principle we have no objections to this proposal, I am looking at the aspect of social responsibility. They must give us a strong and categorical commitment that the intention to help the poor will not be marginalised if it is transferred to Sime Darby.”

IJN is a leading heart medical centre, offering good cardiac treatment for relatively lower fees than private hospitals. At the quasi-government hospital, fees are regulated to ensure that the poor can afford treatment there. IJN is currently 99.99%-owned by the Ministry of Finance Inc.

Abdullah and Najib also agreed that in order for IJN to retain its specialists it would have to go private.

Said Abdullah: “There are a lot of costs that must be incurred to strengthen the capabilities of the hospital”.

For Najib, transferring IJN to Sime Darby will result in more funding for the heart hospital.

“IJN doctors will get remuneration at the highest market rate so that the heart institute will not lose specialists to other hospitals.

“In the competition to have better doctors for centres for heart diseases and with new hospitals springing up, there is a tendency for them to pinch doctors from IJN,” Najib added.

rizalhakim

December 19th, 2008, 10:08 AM

Sime Darby Healthcare in expansion mode
by Thomas Soon
Email us your feedback at fd@bizedge.com

KUALA LUMPUR: Sime Darby Bhd was close to selling its healthcare division, including Sime Darby Medical Centre (previously called Subang Jaya Medical Centre) a few years ago, but the group is now on the verge of scaling greater heights in the business.

This follows its proposal to acquire a 51% stake in the National Heart Institute (IJN), a move that has received the agreement in-principle from the government. Both Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and his deputy Datuk Seri Najib Razak yesterday gave their blessings for the proposed transaction.

The due diligence exercise is expected to be carried out at the start of the new year, and the whole exercise could be wrapped up in no less than five months. The purchase consideration will be paid in cash.

Sime Darby’s previous management had decided to dispose of the healthcare business, but its current president and group chief executive Datuk Seri Ahmad Zubir Murshid reversed that when he was appointed to helm the conglomerate in 2004.

“I see a vast potential in the healthcare business,” Ahmad Zubir said yesterday, in explaining his decision then to make Sime Darby Healthcare a core business and the proposal now to acquire IJN.

Describing it as private-public sector partnership, he said the commercial attractiveness must be seen from the perspective of Sime Darby’s overall expansion plan in the healthcare industry.

As at end-2006, IJN had a paid-up share capital of RM221 million and shareholders’ equity of RM380 million. Ahmad Zubir vowed to honour IJN’s social obligations and that Sime Darby would enhance its infrastructure and human capital as well as expand its reach.

Many other organisations were believed to have expressed interest to the government in acquiring IJN, from which stemmed the idea among policymakers that a government-linked company such as Sime Darby should take the lead.

The world’s largest listed plantation group, with diversified businesses, submitted a formal proposal to acquire a 51% stake in IJN a few months ago, according to Ahmad Zubir.

Two days after The Edge Financial Daily first reported of the proposal and a day after Sime Darby confirmed the report, the group received an official letter from the Economic Planning Unit yesterday informing it of the government’s nod in-principle.

Ahmad Zubir said as stated in the letter, the agreement was subject to three conditions — valuation, a five-year business masterplan for IJN and the group’s commitment to continue fulfilling IJN’s social obligations to the people.

“This is a golden opportunity for Sime Darby. They (IJN) have their strength and we have our strength. We can work together,” he told a media briefing here yesterday.

“We are not looking at IJN now, but at IJN in the future. IJN is a national icon. We will replicate IJN in new areas,” he said.

Ahmad Zubir cited IJN’s brand and reputation, the institute’s full-paying patients, the synergies, vast opportunities in the sector, and the group’s overall healthcare plan, including the lucrative medical tourism segment, as the commercial reasons for the proposed acquisition.

“There is demand from overseas,” he said, adding that he did not believe medical tourism contributed significantly to IJN’s business now. He said IJN would be part of an aggressive plan that would see Sime Darby Healthcare and IJN widen their reach in the domestic and regional markets for the brands and their staff.

Ahmad Zubir said there would also be vast career opportunities for IJN management and staff to spread their wings as the Sime Darby group was now actively eyeing opportunities in the region, including Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam and China.

“We are in talks with a few hospitals (for acquisition of controlling stakes) in the region,” he said, adding the economic downturn presented opportunities for Sime Darby, with its strong balance sheet. He added that the group was also planning to expand to Penang and Melaka.

Apart from the medical centre in Subang Jaya, Sime Darby owns Sime Darby Specialist Centre Megah and Sime Darby Nursing & Health Sciences College. It is building an additional 300-room RM150 million healthcare centre in Desa Park City, Kuala Lumpur, scheduled for completion in three to four years.

Ahmad Zubir said a near-term plan would be for IJN to have a branch within the group’s proposed Medical City in Labu, Negeri Sembilan, which was expected to be launched towards the middle of next year.

The ambitious 15- to 17-year, 30,000-acre Labu development project will also include self-contained cities of entertainment, education, hi-tech, recreation and sport. The present site is now Sime Darby’s Labu and Tanah Merah estates.

“These will be centres of excellence and they include medical tourism, housing and recreation for retirees,” Ahmad Zubir said.

Without IJN, Ahmad Zubir said Sime Darby would have opted for the construction of a new heart centre of its own, which may even lure existing talent away from the national institute. “We found the acquisition of IJN is the best option. We want to attract and recruit talent to IJN,” he said, adding that existing staff would be better remunerated. He said there would be no major management revamp at IJN.

“We are already a group of the rakyat. We have 10.5 million stakeholders. We will continue to fulfil our social obligations to the rakyat. It is what our (Sime Darby) board and what the government want us to do.

“We will to continue to look after the interest of the low- and middle-income groups as well as civil servants,” he added.

Ahmad Zubir said that Sime Darby’s own medical centre was already carrying out corporate social responsibility programmes.

Nonetheless, questions will continue to be asked if Sime Darby would be able to balance that well enough with its profit taking enterprise.

rizalhakim

December 19th, 2008, 10:09 AM

IJN

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nazrey

December 19th, 2008, 11:09 AM

From panoramio.com
Serdang Hospital

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nazrey

December 19th, 2008, 11:49 PM

Unions Laud Postponement Of IJN Takeover Plan
December 20, 2008 01:23 AM

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 20 (Bernama) -- The Malaysian Trades Union Congress (MTUC), the country's private sector employee umbrella union, lauded the government's move to defer the privatisation plan of the National Heart Institute (IJN).

In fact, the union wants the government to scrap altogether the idea of allowing conglomerate Sime Darby Bhd to buy a 51 per cent stake in the country's premier heart institute.

MTUC secretary-general G. Rajasekaran said IJN was an important health care institution and it was the government's responsibility to maintain it for the benefit of the people, especially the poor.

Yesterday, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak announced that the government had, in principle, given the green light to Sime Darby for the company to acquire a controlling stake in IJN Holdings.

Friday, at its Cabinet meeting, he said the government decided to postpone the deal until an indepth review was undertaken by the relevant ministries.

Najib, who is also finance minister, told a press conference that the ministries to undertake the review, included the finance and health, as well as the Economic Planning Unit.

IJN is operated by IJN Holdings Sdn Bhd, which is wholly-owned by the finance ministry.

In a related development, the Transport Workers Union (TWU), while welcoming the postponement, felt that the entire issue of selling the IJN to the private sector should be closed permanently.

"To us, IJN is non-negotiable and it should not go into private hands as it would negate the noble intention of setting up the institute in the first place," TWU secretary-general Datuk Zainal Rampak told Bernama.

"IJN is a Malaysian icon and it should be preserved as such," he said.

-- BERNAMA

nazrey

December 19th, 2008, 11:50 PM

Mahathir happy IJN privatisation deferred
Published: 2008/12/20

TUN Dr Mahathir Mohamad is glad the government has decided to defer the privatisation of the National Heart Institute (IJN).

The former prime minister said in the first place, he did not think the privatisation of the institute was a good idea since it “was a unique foundation” based on its good work todate.

“There has not been any complaint on the IJN. They have performed extremely well. Serving the rich and the poor. Everyone benefited from IJN, including myself,” he told reporters after receiving RM150,000 from the foreign ministry, on behalf of the Kuala Lumpur Foundation to Criminalise War which he chairs.

Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Rais Yatim presented the cheque to Dr Mahathir at the Al-Bukhary Foundation yesterday.

It was reported that Sime Darby had made a proposal to the government to acquire equity in IJN Holdings Sdn Bhd, the operator of IJN.

IJN is the leading medical heart centre in the region and is 99.99 per cent owned by the Finance Ministry.

However, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak announced yesterday that the deal had been postponed until an indepth review was undertaken by the relevant ministries.

Meanwhile, the Malaysian Medical Association (MMA) has called on the government not to hastily rush into allowing the private sector to acquire stakes in IJN.

In welcoming the announcement over the postponement of Sime Darby’s proposed acquisition in IJN Holdings, MMA president Datuk Dr Khoo Kah Lin said the government should get feedback and views from the public and non-governmental organisations before making any decision.

“We are worried that when a private company takes over, the welfare of the poor will be ignored and they might not get health treatment at a lower rate.

“We are concerned because the bottom line in any commercial undertaking is to make profit as they are answerable to the shareholders ... they cannot go and make a loss.

“IJN is the jewel for heart patients in this country ... it is accessible to poor heart patients,” he said. - Bernama

rizalhakim

December 20th, 2008, 04:43 AM

New move shows ‘reservations’

PETALING JAYA: Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Sahan, the first chairman of the National Heart Institute (IJN) said deferring the proposed takeover was reasonable only if the Govern*ment wanted to examine strategies to increase efficiency and effectiveness.

He said the deferment indicated there were reservations in the Cabinet over the matter.

However, Abdul Khalid was still against the privatisation move and termed it a “negative development.”

rizalhakim

December 20th, 2008, 04:43 AM

Heart patients express relief at deferment of takeover

JOHOR BARU: Heart transplant survivor Tee Hui Yi can breathe a sigh of relief now that plans for the privatisation of the National Heart Institute (IJN) has been put on hold.

“I have been worried since we heard about the announcement,” she said yesterday.

“We even had a family discussion about this matter on Thursday night as we were worried about how the new cost will impact the family expenses.”

Tee hopes that a detailed study will be conducted into the matter before anything is announced as such matters affected not just her life but also many others, including her parents and others seeking treatment at IJN.

“My parents are already sacrificing a lot for me and I do not want to see them suffer financially,” she said.

At present, Hui Yi is eligible for free medication.

Another heart transplant patient, Muhd Fikri Nor Azmi, 18, felt that even if the privatisation proposal went ahead later, it had to be done in the public interest.

“It has to be something that does not jeopardise heart patients from the financial and medical assistance we receive,” he said.

Muhd Fikri added there were so many other people other than himself and Tee who needed help.

“So many people go there for help one way or another. If the privatisation goes ahead, it has to help these people,” he added.

rizalhakim

December 20th, 2008, 04:44 AM

Sime Darby to await further instructions from Government

PETALING JAYA: Sime Darby Berhad will wait for further instructions from the Government on its proposal to take a 51% stake in the National Heart Institute (IJN).

“Sime Darby Bhd stands guided by the decision of the Cabinet and awaits further instruction from the Government,” said a spokesman in a statement yesterday.

The statement was issued following the Cabinet’s decision to defer the proposed takeover plan of IJN.

On Thursday, Sime Darby president and group chief executive Datuk Seri Ahmad Zubir Murshid said the company received a reply from the Economic Planning Unit on its proposal that day itself.

In the letter, he said the Govern*ment had agreed in principle to the proposal but with three conditions.

The conditions were that the value of tender had to be acceptable, a business plan for IJN had to be created, and commitment given to continue with the social obligations of the IJN as provided by the Health Ministry.

rizalhakim

December 20th, 2008, 04:45 AM

Public concerns being heard

PETALING JAYA: The decision to defer the proposed takeover plan of the National Heart Institute (IJN) shows that the Government “is listening to the people.”

“It shows that the Government is listening to the ground,” said Health Minister Datuk Liow Tiong Lai when commenting on the Cabinet decision.

“The ministry will continue to provide affordable and quality healthcare services to all,” he said when contacted.

rizalhakim

December 20th, 2008, 04:46 AM

Hospital staff deny demand for higher pay linked to proposal

MEDICAL consultants at the National Heart Institute (IJN) have reiterated their commitment to serve IJN in its current form.

“We read with concern the perceived perception that the medical staff of IJN are demanding higher pay and will leave IJN if these demands are not met.

“We feel it is important that these negative perceptions are correctly put into context.

“The institution was set up in 1992 as a corporate body directly under the purview of Finance Ministry (MOF). Its board of Directors include representatives from Health Ministry (MOH) and MOF to ensure its direction and objectives of providing good quality and affordable medical care to Malaysians from all walks of life are adhered to.

“In that respect, IJN has done and continue to do well, both in maintaining its moral as well as financial obligations. The institution has been self-sustaining since its inception (and has been able to pay year-end bonuses annually without fail).

“For 2007 and up to end November 2008, we have accumulated 285,764 number of outpatients, performed 15,084 cardiac catheterisation interventions including angiograms and angioplasties, 6,094 heart and lung surgeries, seven mechanical hearts and heart and lung transplants surgeries.

“As is true with any organisation of our size, there will be people leaving the organisation at various times in order to pursue different career paths.

“Over the last seven years of operation, out of a total of 35 consultants, only seven have left IJN to work either in local or overseas private centres. Therefore, our consultants’ annual attrition rate is only three percent and we have responded consistently over time to promote our home-grown talents to fill up the voids accordingly.

“Currently, 75% of IJN consultants have been in their posts for more than 10 years.

“All of us are salaried based on a different payscale than that of the Health Ministry though not at par with the private centres. Periodic review of salary scale is usually undertaken, subject to approval from Finance Ministry.

“As proven from our consultants’ attrition rate and longevity in serving this institution, it is logical to surmise that on the whole we are happy with the current scheme and proving it by remaining with IJN. Many of us has served more than 10 years, excluding time spent within MOH hospitals prior to setting-up of IJN.

“Whilst we have yet to have a clear picture of the proposed privatisation by Sime Darby, we would like to reiterate our commitment to serve IJN in its current form and want to stress that the proposed privatisation of IJN must not be seen to be as a response to our demands for better pay. The medical personnel of IJN are not at all involved, directly or otherwise, in the negotiations for the said privatisation.

“Being responsible employees of IJN, we are not in the position to dictate the outcome of the privatisation proposal from Sime Darby to the stakeholders of IJN.

“However, the perception that the privatisation proposal is in response to demands for higher remunerations by its medical staff is misconceived and must be corrected accordingly to safeguard and preserve the trust placed upon us by our patients.”

rizalhakim

December 20th, 2008, 04:46 AM

Mahathir: IJN is one entity which shouldn’t be privatised

PETALING JAYA: Former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad said he seldom opposed privatisation but the exception he made was Sime Darby’s proposal to buy over the National Heart Institute (IJN).

“Leave this institution as it is. It is our pride and it is doing a good job as it is,” he said in his blog, chedet.com in an entry posted at 3.57pm yesterday, about two-and-a-half hours before Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak announced the deferment of the project.

Dr Mahathir, who is an IJN patient, said there were many questions that needed to be addressed which he believed some could not be answered.

“If it is going to give the same service to civil servants and pensioners, the Government would have to pay out the same amount of money after the privatisation. How would the Government gain?” he asked.

Dr Mahathir also questioned if Sime Darby would charge the poor with the same fees and if it would make a profit by doing so.

“Will the Government continue to subsidise an ever growing bill for treatment of the poor? If so, why is there a need to privatise?” he asked further.

He added that the Government should not make decisions which would provide the Opposition with an opportunity to attack them.

Upon hearing of Najib’s announcement, Dr Mahathir said he welcomed the decision.

“There has not been any complaint on the IJN. They have performed extremely well. Serving the rich and the poor. Everyone benefited from IJN, including myself,” he told reporters after receiving RM150,000 from the Foreign Ministry on behalf of the Kuala Lumpur Foundation to Criminalise War which he chairs.

rizalhakim

December 20th, 2008, 04:47 AM

In-depth study on IJN plan

PUTRAJAYA: The proposed takeover plan of the National Heart Institute (IJN) has been deferred by the Cabinet.

In making the announcement, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said the decision would enable the ministries of Finance and Health, and the Economic Planning Unit to carry out an in-depth study on the matter before making a final decision.

Najib, who is also Finance Minister, said the study would focus on the interests of the rakyat, especially in guaranteeing that the Government’s social responsibilities towards the people would not be sacrificed.

The deferment, according to Najib, was made due to the negative reaction from the public following the Government’s announcement that it had agreed in principle to the takeover plan.

Official stand: Najib announcing that the Government has deferred its decision on the proposed IJN takeover by Sime Darby during a media conference at the Finance Ministry in Putrajaya Friday.

Asked if the move had anything to do with the up-coming Kuala Terengganu by-election next month, Najib said: “No, it has nothing whatsoever to do with it.”

He explained the Government had only agreed in principle to the plan, subject to the condition that IJN’s social responsibility would not be compromised or lessened.

“It must also be pointed out that should the takeover by Sime Darby be allowed, the Government’s contributions towards the operations of patients would continue,” he told a press conference at his office yesterday.

“In another words, the Govern*ment would not simply abandon or sacrifice its social responsibilities.”

Najib said the in-depth study on the plan was expected to be completed within a few months.

He said whatever decision that was made later would not cause further concern and anxiety among the people over IJN’s ability to carry on with its social responsibilities.

rizalhakim

December 22nd, 2008, 07:31 AM

IJN should never be privatised, says Gerakan

IPOH: Gerakan has joined in the chorus of objections over the now-deferred plan to privatise the National Heart Institute (IJN).

Its deputy chairman Datuk Chang Ko Youn said health care should never be privatised and it was the Government’s obligation to provide affordable health care to the people.

“Even though the Government has said the welfare of the poor will be cared for, I do not buy that story,” he told reporters at a leadership workshop here yesterday.

“The moment you privatise, there will

always be the question of commercial interest and profit margin in mind.

“Sime Darby is a commercial organisation. How much can it do to help the poor?” he asked of Sime Darby Bhd’s proposal to acquire 51% of IJN.

Chang, who is Perak Gerakan chairman, pointed out that Sime Darby already owned the Subang Jaya Medical Centre which could be expanded.

He said Sime Darby could also set up its own heart hospital.

He said the Government should instead

look into improving the efficiency and reducing the costs of public hospitals, including the IJN.

“If cost cutting is the reason (for privatising IJN), they should tackle the problem at the source. I was told that IJN was making money every year so I do not see why an organisation that is making money is being handed over to a conglomerate,” he said.

rizalhakim

December 22nd, 2008, 07:32 AM

IJN privatisation: ‘Don’t defer, just scrap it’
By MAZWIN NIK ANIS

PUTRAJAYA: DAP Youth wants the Government to completely scrap plans to privatise the National Heart Institute (IJN) as it would be against the people’s wishes for affordable medical care.

Movement chief Loke Siew Fook said the recent announcement by Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak to defer the plan was not enough to calm the people’s concern, as they still feared the privatisation could materialise in the future.

“The Government should listen to the rakyat’s (citizens’) voice -- it is not only those who are in the poor and middle income groups who are opposed to it.

“Individuals, including former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, doctors at the institute and even politicians are unhappy with the decision.

“We want a firm commitment from the Deputy Prime Minister that IJN will never be privatised -- this is what the people want to hear,” he told a press conference after presenting a memorandum on the issue to Najib, who is also the Finance Minister.

The memorandum was handed over to the Finance Minister’s senior private secretary.

rizalhakim

December 22nd, 2008, 07:52 AM

IJN, UMMC's criteria for helping poor

KUALA LUMPUR: IJN Foundation, the charity arm of IJN, takes into consideration the following factors in helping poor patients:

- Heart patients needing urgent treatment;

- Patients must furnish supporting documents such as pay slips and income tax forms;

- Details of household income and expenses;

- Details of number of dependents as well as the income of their spouses and working children where applicable;

- Referral from a government or private hospital; and

- Cases are considered on a case-by-case basis with no fixed-cost limit.

IJN Foundation general manager Alawiyah Yussof said it provided RM1.2 million for 85 patients last year and RM1.7 million for 52 patients up to August this year.

She said each treatment cost between RM25,000 and RM45,000, while the cost of devices such as pacemakers ranged from RM32,000 to RM80,000.

The process of verifying applications takes one to two weeks.

Similarly, University Malaya Medical Centre considers the following in subsidising needy patients.

- Applicants need to undergo an interview;

- They must provide supporting documents; and

- They must show proof that they are not in a position to pay the full cost of treatment.

nazrey

December 24th, 2008, 12:20 AM

IJN: Healthcare Institute With A 'Heart'
December 22, 2008 11:08 AM
By Zulkiple Ibrahim

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 22 (Bernama) -- Last Friday, the Government announced that it has decided to defer the Sime Darby's proposed takeover of the National Heart Institute (IJN).

When announcing the Cabinet's decision, Deputy Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Najib Tun Abdul Razak said, the decision on the proposed takeover was put off pending a detailed study by the Economic Planning Unit (EPU), Finance Ministry and Health Ministry.

Najib who is also the Finance Minister said, the study would focus on the interests of the people particularly over the assurance that the Government's social responsibilities towards the people would not be compromised.

Former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, the person responsible in the setting up of IJN, welcomed the Government's move.

In his blog 'chedet.com', Dr Mahathir said IJN should be left as it is, as the institution is doing a good job to the people.

He said if the government is to continue to subsidise the treatment of the poor, then it is not necessary to privatize the IJN.

When speaking to reporters at a function in Petaling Jaya the same day, Dr Mahathir said there had not been any complaint against the IJN and the institution had performed extremely well serving Malaysians from all levels of the society.

WHAT PEOPLE ON THE STREET SAY

Cab driver A. Kumaresan said, he and a number of his fellow cabbies think that it would be unwise to allow IJN to be operated by a conglomerate.

"We are surprised to learn about the proposed takeover. I have talked to many passengers about the issue over the past few days and all of them did not like the idea that the IJN should be privatized", he told Bernama here.

Academician and social activist Fatimah Mansur concurs with Kumaresan's views.

She said, the country already has a number of private hospitals and medical centres that could cater to the public needs.

"Leave IJN as it is. It is understood that the waiting list at IJN is long but being the top heart institute in the country, this is normal and the public do not mind the long waiting list as long as they could have access to IJN", said the mother of three doctors.

Former civil servant Wee Teck Seng, who had a heart by-pass operation done at IJN in 2000 said IJN is a public institution that opens its doors to Malaysians from all walks of life.

He said, most of the patients admitted to the IJN were civil servants, pensioners and those from the under-privileged group.

"For the rich and those who could afford the high cost, they could go to private medical institutions and there are many in the country.

"I remember before the existence of IJN many Malaysians suffering from cardiac (heart) problems had to go to Singapore to seek treatment and this was very costly.

"If IJN is privatized, no matter what is promised for the proposed takeover, we believe that it would evaporate after one or two years.

"If the privatization plan is given the go ahead, it is inevitable the treatment cost at IJN would go up and when this happens many Malaysians would suffer particularly the lower-income earners".

University lecturer who wants to be known as Abdul Rahman said, the privatization concept is good. "But it is not applicable to public medical institutions, what more if the institution is IJN.

"Look what happened to privatization of Lembaga Letrik Negara and Telekom. No doubt we have better and much improved services.

"But look at the rates, many times higher if compared to before their privatization. Of course the service is going to be better, but at what price?" Abdul Rahman said the Government knows what is best for the people.

"I am sure the Government would make a decision favourable to the people", he added.

WHAT THE PROFESSIONALS SAY?

A paediatrician at a public medical centre here, who declined to be named said: "I think the specialists and physicians at the IJN are not concerned with the remuneration they receive.

"In my opinion, they have great pleasure and are committed to their social obligations in serving the public.

"To them money is not important, but what is more important to them is the duty to Malaysians. To me they are people with noble heart", she said.

A general practitioner for 20 years, who wished to be identified as only Dr Muzaffar of Shah Alam said:

"I know the specialists and physicians who serve at the IJN are happy with their service there. In fact I would say that the services offered by the surgeons, cardiologists and other support staff are exemplary.

"I have not heard of any complaint against them as they have discharged their duties well. To me the staff of the IJN are truly heroes of the nation" , he added.

The Malaysian Medical Association (MMA) too, last Friday, had voiced its objection against the proposed takeover.

IJN PROVIDES HOPE

A 40-year-old civil servant, who wished to be known only as Ida, said she owed it a lot to IJN.

The mother of three said her youngest child, a boy who is now 16 months old, was born with a severe case of 'hole-in-heart.'

"In fact he had three holes in his heart, a severe case of congenital malformation", said Ida.

Her boy was diagnosed with the condition of Total Anomalous Pulmonary Venous Drainage (TAPVD), Patent Foramen Ovale (PFA) and Patent Ductus Arteriousus (PDA).

Surgeons at the IJN successfully performed Total Intra Cardiac Repair on the boy in an operation that lasted for eight hours on Nov 23 last year.

"A doctor at another hospital had said that the condition was complicated and nothing much could be done to help the boy.

"I was advised to seek a second opinion at the IJN and the specialist there said an operation to correct the problem could be done", Ida added.

Thanks to the effort of IJN, the boy is now healthy and well.

NATIONAL HEART INSTITUTE

IJN took shape on Aug 1, 1992.

As the national referral centre for cardiovascular disease, it sees new cases referred from all over the country as well as follow-up cases at the outpatient clinics.

As the only centre specialising in treatment and management of heart diseases, IJN offers a comprehensive range of services for cardiovascular medicine.

By 2009, the IJN is expected to have a total of 432 beds and would become one of the largest heart centres in the region.

-- BERNAMA

Institut Jantung Negara :: National Heart Institute
IJN - INSTITUT JANTUNG NEGARA. ... Yayasan Jantung Malaysia.
www.ijn.com.my/

rizalhakim

December 24th, 2008, 05:05 AM

Penswastaan IJN perlu dikaji semula

MELAKA 23 Dis. - Rancangan penswastaan Institut Jantung Negara (IJN) perlu dikaji semula kerana dikhuatiri menjejaskan peluang rakyat berpendapatan rendah menikmati kemudahan rawatan di institut berkenaan.

Pengarah Jabatan Kesihatan negeri, Dr. Ghazali Othman berkata, sebagai salah seorang pengamal perubatan, beliau bimbang berlaku senario kenaikan kos rawatan dan perubatan di IJN ekoran langkah penswastaan itu.

Menurutnya, hasrat kerajaan membenarkan penswastaan IJN itu adalah baik demi memastikan tahap kualiti perkhidmatan institut berkenaan meningkat pada masa depan.

''Mungkin memang ada peluang atau ruang yang lebih baik disediakan hasil daripada penswastaan IJN ini.

''Namun sebagai pengamal perubatan dan juga ahli masyarakat, apa yang lebih kita gusarkan dalam soal ini, apabila IJN diswastakan, perkhidmatannya kelak tidak dapat lagi dinikmati oleh masyarakat berpendapatan rendah akibat peningkatan kos rawatan," katanya.

Beliau bercakap kepada pemberita selepas menghadiri Sambutan Hari AIDS Sedunia 2008 peringkat negeri yang disempurnakan oleh Timbalan Pengerusi Jawatankuasa Hal Ehwal Wanita, Pembangunan Keluarga dan Kesihatan negeri, Chua Kheng Hua di sini hari ini.

Dr. Ghazali mengulas rancangan konglomerat Sime Darby Berhad mengambil alih 51 peratus kepentingan dalam IJN namun hasrat itu telah ditangguhkan oleh kerajaan setelah mendapat tentangan banyak pihak.

Timbalan Perdana Menteri, Datuk Seri Najib Run Razak ketika mengumumkan penangguhan itu baru-baru ini berkata, rancangan pengambilalihan itu akan dikaji semula dengan mendalam oleh kementerian-kementerian yang berkaitan.

Tambah Dr. Ghazali, sekiranya kerajaan tetap meneruskan rancangan menswastakan IJN kelak, pihak berkaitan perlu memastikan perkhidmatan yang sedia ada bertambah baik dan paling utama, tiada perubahan ke atas kos rawatan kepada pesakit.

''Pada masa ini, golongan berpendapatan rendah masih dapat menikmati kemudahan rawatan yang disediakan di IJN namun jika diswastakan kelak, pasti berlaku perubahan dan kita tidak mahu ia melibatkan kos rawatan.

''Perkara ini perlu dikaji dan perhalusi dan jika IJN diswastakan kelak, perkhidmatan yang ditawarkan kepada masyarakat sepatutnya lebih baik berbanding sekarang ini," katanya.

Katanya, pada masa ini tidak banyak hospital menawarkan kemudahan rawatan pakar seperti yang terdapat di IJN menyebabkan masyarakat terpaksa bergantung kepada institut berkenaan.

''Kita tidak mahu menjadi rakyat Amerika Syarikat yang tidak mampu membayar kos rawatan jantung di hospital pakar kerana terlalu mahal dan akhirnya masalah itu memberi kesan buruk kepada tahap kesihatan rakyat negara berkenaan," katanya.

nazrey

January 2nd, 2009, 03:39 PM

Penang welcomes investment from St Jude Medical
2009/01/02 Bernama

PENANG, Fri.: St Jude Medical, a medical device company, plans to invest US$30 million (RM108 million) in Penang.

Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng said the investment will cover a 300,000 square-foot facility in Penang Island in the first phase of the company’s expansion.

The new facility in Penang will house both an administrative office and a manufacturing plant.

Lim said work on the new facility was expected to start this year while operations was expected to take off in 2011.

Once all regulatory approvals are received, St Jude Medical products are expected to be rolled out from the Penang facility in the 2011 timeframe, he told a press conference here today.

“The Penang facility is projected to provide employment opportunities to 300 residents of Penang in its first year of operation... the facility may continue to expand to create more than 1,000 jobs for the people of Penang and Malaysia,” he added.

Lim said St Jude Medical plans to initially expand the production of their Cardiac Rhythm Management (CRM) products in the Penang facility.

St Jude Medical develops medical technology and services that focus on putting more control into the hands of those who treat cardiac, neurological and chronic pain patients worldwide.

The company is dedicated to advancing the practice of medicine by reducing risk wherever possible and contributing to successful outcome for every patient.

rizalhakim

January 5th, 2009, 06:45 AM

Hospital Melaka tambah parking

MELAKA 4 Jan. - Masalah kekurangan tempat letak kereta awam di Hospital Melaka dijangka dapat diatasi setelah kerajaan Pusat meluluskan pembinaan sebuah bangunan letak kereta bertingkat yang mengandungi 800 lot.

Pengarah Kesihatan negeri, Dr. Ghazali Othman berkata, kerja-kerja pembinaan bangunan setinggi tujuh tingkat itu juga dijangka akan bermula Mei ini dan siap menjelang 2010.

"Sekarang ini, tender melantik kontraktor sedang dibuka sehingga Mac ini sebelum kerja-kerja pembinaan bermula selepas itu.

"Keperluan terhadap meletak kereta di sini sudah lama diperlukan dan sering menjadi rungutan orang ramai," katanya ketika dihubungi Utusan Malaysia di sini hari ini.

Tambahnya, walaupun di keseluruhan kawasan hospital itu terdapat hampir 1,000 lot letak kereta awam disediakan, ia masih tidak mencukupi.

Mengenai kemungkinan akan mengenakan kadar bayaran terhadap tempat letak kereta baru itu, Ghazali berkata, ia sepatutnya percuma.

"Tempat letak kereta baru ini sepatutnya tidak mengenakan bayaran memandangkan ia dibiayai sepenuhnya oleh kerajaan Pusat," katanya.

Difahamkan, kos pembinaan bangunan baru setinggi tujuh tingkat itu dianggarkan bernilai RM18 juta.

Sementara itu, orang ramai yang ditemui di Hospital Melaka hari ini menyambut baik usaha terbaru hospital tersebut demi keselesaan pelawat dan pesakit yang berurusan di situ.

Bagi Norhafizah Mokhtar, 28, masalah kekurangan tempat letak kereta di Hospital Melaka telah lama berlaku dan pembinaan bangunan letak kereta baru itu menunjukkan keprihatinan kerajaan.

"Lega rasanya bila tempat letak kereta baru baru siap nanti, tidak perlulah berpusing hospital berkali-kali," katanya.

Mohamad Idris Husin, 36, berkata dengan adanya bangunan letak kereta bertingkat itu, keadaan trafik di dalam hospital tersebut akan bertambah lancar.

"Kalau boleh, kami pun tidak mahu letak kereta di tempat yang dilarang, tapi kadang-kadang terpaksa juga berbuat begitu apabila tempat sedia ada semuanya telah penuh," katanya.

Namun, bagi Razak Mat, 51, orang ramai juga perlu memberikan kerjasama dengan meletakkan kenderaan di tempat baru apabila siap kelak dan tidak memilih tempat yang dilarang yang dekat dengan bangunan hospital.

"Kalau tidak terdesak, bersabarlah dan carilah tempat letak kereta yang kosong yang tidak menyusahkan orang lain," katanya.

rizalhakim

January 7th, 2009, 02:56 AM

Sime passes up on IJN
By Azlan Abu BakarPublished: 2009/01/07

Sime Darby says it will not pursue with its plan to acquire an equity stake in IJN after taking into consideration public sentiment and feedback received

Sime Darby Bhd has dropped its plans to buy a 51 per cent stake in Institut Jantung Negara (IJN), bowing to public sentiment on the matter.

The company said the decision was made after feedback it received
when the government deferred its decision to allow Sime Darby to begin negotiations with the Ministry of Finance.

IJN is 99.99 per cent owned by the Federal Government.

“We wish to announce that we will not pursue with our plan to acquire an equity stake in IJN. The company arrived at this decision after taking into consideration public sentiment and feedback received,” it said in a statement to Bursa Malaysia yesterday.

Sime Darby will continue to look for opportunities to expand in the healthcare sector.

Its plan to buy a controlling stake in the premier heart hospital sparked a major outcry. Many were concerned that the cost of cardiovascular treatment would go up if IJN was privatised.

Since IJN’s corporatisation in 1992, it has developed into a leading regional heart centre offering the best-trained hands and most advanced facilities in sophisticated organ transplants and coronary surgeries.

It was financially self-sustaining within a year of operations and made a profit of RM20 million last year.

rizalhakim

January 7th, 2009, 03:37 AM

Sime Darby cancels IJN takeover bid
By LESTER KONG and YUEN MEIKENG

PETALING JAYA: Sime Darby Bhd has called off its bid to buy a majority stake in the National Heart Institute (IJN).

The company said the decision was made after taking into consideration public sentiment and feedback on the takeover plan since the Government announced that it had deferred its decision to allow Sime Darby to begin negotiations with the Finance Ministry to take a 51% stake in IJN.

“The company wishes to announce that it will not pursue its plan to acquire an equity stake in IJN,” the company said in a statement to Bursa Malaysia.

“The company, nevertheless, will continue to look for opportunities

for expansion in the health-care

sector.”

Sime Darby first proposed to buy a 51% stake in IJN on Dec 17 after sending its offer to the Government.

On Dec 19, the Government an-nounced its decision to defer negotiations.

Malaysian Medical Association president Datuk Dr Khoo Kah Lin said the decision by the conglomerate showed that it was sensitive to the wishes of the people.

“I hope no more private firms will approach the Government to purchase a majority stake in any essential

services run by the Government,” he said.

He said the cost of any essential government medical services was bound to increase once taken over by private companies.

“Although they said they would keep prices low for patients, eventually they would have to listen to the shareholders,” he added.

Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Sahan, the first chairman of IJN, said he was “very happy” over Sime Darby’s decision.

“I am glad that they are aware of not only the public’s sentiment but those who are still working at the institute. The ownership should remain untouched,” he said.

Abdul Khalid added that the Government should now find ways to improve the institute’s infrastructure by setting up branches in the east coast, Sabah and Sarawak so that there would be easier access to treatment.

“At the moment, IJN performs about eight to 10 open heart surgeries every day. But with branches, this number could increase,” he said.

rizalhakim

January 7th, 2009, 04:34 AM

International University College of Nursing
IUCN The First University in the world that is solely Dedicated to Nursing with 32 Disciplines
http://www.iucn.edu.my

http://www.iucn.edu.my/images/campus/artist_impression.jpg
Artist impression of IUCN campus

http://www.iucn.edu.my/images/campus/main_entrance.jpg
Main Entrance to IUCN

http://www.iucn.edu.my/images/campus/chancellery.jpg
Chancellery

http://www.iucn.edu.my/images/campus/library_nursing_skill.jpg
Library & Nursing Skills Laboratories

http://www.iucn.edu.my/images/campus/rnd.jpg
R&D Incubator

http://www.iucn.edu.my/images/campus/sports_complex.jpg
Sports Complex

http://www.iucn.edu.my/images/campus/student_services_centre.jpg
Student Services Centre

http://www.iucn.edu.my/images/campus/halls_of_residence.jpg
Halls of Residence (Student Hostels)

http://www.iucn.edu.my/images/campus/academic_centre.jpg
Academic Centre

rizalhakim

January 8th, 2009, 04:36 AM

MCA: Sime Darby should build its own hospital

KUALA LUMPUR: Sime Darby should build its own private hospitals and not try to take over the National Heart Institute (IJN) in a move to expand its healthcare business.

MCA information and communications bureau chief Lee Wei Kiat said the group could then try to compete with the IJN by providing better services to the people.

“Sime Darby’s decision in calling off its takeover plan should be lauded for taking into consideration public sentiment and views from various parties, of which the majority was against the move.

“This decision shows that the company has put the interest of the public above its own and has fulfilled its corporate social responsibility towards society,” he said in a statement yesterday.

Lee was responding to a report that the group had called off its proposal to buy a 51% stake in the institute.

He said that when the takeover plan was first announced, MCA ministers had quickly voiced their concern in the Cabinet.

“We are grateful that the Cabinet decided then to defer its decision to allow Sime Darby to begin negotiations with the Finance Ministry on the takeover,” he said.

rizalhakim

January 8th, 2009, 08:01 AM

IJN: Orang ramai sambut baik keputusan Sime Darby

KUALA LUMPUR 7 Jan. - Orang ramai melahirkan rasa lega dengan keputusan Sime Darby Bhd. (Sime Darby) membatalkan hasratnya mengambil alih Institut Jantung Negara (IJN) semalam.

Menurut mereka, keputusan itu perlu dilakukan setelah mengambil kira perasaan orang ramai yang tidak bersetuju dengan keputusan penswastaan IJN.

Seorang bekas pembantu perubatan, N. Kumaran, 51, berkata, IJN diwujudkan untuk membantu rakyat yang menghidap penyakit jantung dengan kos perubatan yang berpatutan.

''Biarkan IJN menjadi institut jantung yang menjadi hak kerajaan. Lebih baik Sime Darby tubuhkan satu lagi institut jantung yang dapat membantu rakyat dengan kos yang rendah seperti IJN," katanya yang juga menghidap penyakit jantung.

Semalam Sime Darby memutuskan untuk tidak melaksanakan cadangan mengambil alih IJN.

Syarikat itu dilaporkan telah mencapai satu persetujuan selepas mengambil kira sentimen orang ramai dan juga maklum balas yang diterima.

Seorang guru, Raja Zainal Abidin Raja Alias, 52, berkata, keputusan membatalkan pengambilalihan IJN itu adalah tepat.

Katanya, IJN adalah institusi jantung di Malaysia yang menyediakan rawatan perubatan yang cemerlang.

''Jika ia diambil alih dan diswastakan, rakyat akan menerima bebanan kos perubatan yang tinggi.

''IJN adalah hak milik rakyat dan ia satu-satunya institusi pakar di negara kita yang dapat membantu pesakit jantung yang berpendapatan rendah," katanya.

Seorang suri rumah, Choo Ah Mooi, 47, berkata, rakyat berpendapatan rendah lega apabila mendengar keputusan Sime Darby itu

"Saya harap kerajaan dapat mengekalkan IJN seperti sebelum ini, bukan semua orang berpendapatan tinggi dan mampu menampung kos perubatan mereka," katanya.

Seorang kakitangan awam, Rozita Osman, 47, pula berkata, jika IJN diserahkan kepada Sime Darby, kos rawatan perubatan akan meningkat dan membebankan golongan berpendapatan sederhana dan miskin.

Katanya, jika penswastaan itu berlaku, rakyat akan menderita kerana tidak mampu membayar kos rawatan dan kerajaan pula terpaksa memperuntukkan kos tinggi bagi menjaga kebajikan rakyat.

rizalhakim

January 16th, 2009, 05:19 AM

http://thestar.com.my/archives/2009/1/16/kuala_terengganu/n_pg04hospital.jpg
Expansion plans: Abdullah and Health Minister Datuk Liow Tiong Lai looking at a model of the Sultan Nur Zahiran Hospital. With them are Datuk Ahmad Said and Datuk Dr Abdul Latiff Ahmad.

rizalhakim

January 16th, 2009, 08:03 AM

Healthcare industry to grow 8% this year
by Pauline Puah
Email us your feedback at fd@bizedge.com

KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian healthcare industry is expected to grow 8% this year, supported by a RM13.7 billion budget, said Frost & Sullivan yesterday.

“This is an increase of 5.35% from the previous year, which represents 2% of gross domestic products,” the consulting firm said in a statement.

The healthcare industry was supported by a RM13 billion budget last year.

Frost & Sullivan said despite the economic meltdown, opportunities were anticipated for the Asia-Pacific (Apac) region, especially Malaysia due to its excellent infrastructure and facilities as well as cost-competitiveness compared to other developing Apac nations.

“Malaysia’s healthcare industry is likely to gain the most out of this global economy condition,” it said. Frost & Sullivan said the healthcare industry was perceived as a more defensive sector compared to other industries.

“More often than not products are viewed as essential goods that should be less affected by cyclical economic events,” it said. Frost & Sullivan said healthcare companies saw the global economic crisis as an opportunity in emerging markets.

“Companies are prepared to take bold steps with acquisition or joint ventures with niche medical technology players in China such as Meditronics, Alpha X-ray and Shinva,” it said.

Frost & Sullivan said there were also opportunities for investment by foreign companies in the pharmaceutical industry in the form of clinical research outsourcing and clinical trials.

“The rest of the players such as medical devices and healthcare services providers will have a fare share of opportunity in biotechnology-based products as well as expansion abroad,” it added.

nazrey

January 17th, 2009, 02:27 PM

SELANGOR MEDICAL CENTRE
by mohd salim yunus

http://img19.picoodle.com/img/img19/3/1/17/f_04m_a676828.jpg

rizalhakim

February 13th, 2009, 04:33 AM

FajarBaru wins RM138m contract
Published: 2009/02/13

FAJARBARU Builder Group Bhd’s wholly-owned Fajarbaru Builder Sdn Bhd has won a RM138 million contract from the Public Works Department to build a hospital in Tampin, Negri Sembilan. The job scope covers the design, construction, equipping, commissioning and maintenance of the 108-beds Tampin Hospital.

Work should start on March 2 this year and must be completed in 36 months, FajarBaru told Bursa Malaysia yesterday.

rizalhakim

February 17th, 2009, 07:36 AM

George Kent wins RM98m hospital job
by Siow Chen Ming
Email us your feedback at fd@bizedge.com

KUALA LUMPUR: George Kent (M) Bhd, which is controlled by businessman Tan Sri Tan Kay Hock, announced yesterday that it has been awarded a contract by the Ministry of Health to undertake the upgrading of Kuala Lipis Hospital in Pahang for RM97.75 million.

Spurred on by the award, the company, which is mainly in the water industry, will be looking at more such projects from the government and private sector.

According to George Kent’s managing director Lee Pui Leng, the project was awarded on a direct-negotiated basis, with “industry-standard margin”.

“The hospital upgrading is the first such project for us. We have been looking for new opportunities over the last two years, especially in the area of civil construction. We will look for more civil projects, from the government as well as the private sector,” said Lee.

At the moment, George Kent’s core business is the manufacturing and marketing of water meters and other waterworks products, water infrastructure investments (a water concession in Papua New Guinea) and mechanical and electrical (M&E) projects.

Lee said one of the reasons the company is branching out in civil construction is because the water implementation projects in the country has been slow.

The scope of the RM98 million hospital upgrading contract encompasses the design and building of a seven-storey 106-bed medical ward, minor operating theatres, car park facilities, building amenities and ancillary services essential to the hospital’s operations.

According to the company’s announcement to Bursa Malaysia, the contract works will commence with site possession on Feb 26, 2009 and the completion period is 30 months thereafter. Site mobilisation works are currently underway and the key project resource team will be activated at site as soon as site possession is secured.

George Kent is majority owned by Tan, who is non-executive chairman and owns a direct and deemed interest of 5.4% and 49.6% stake in the company.

It is worth noting that Malayan United Industries Bhd (MUI), which is controlled by tycoon Tan Sri Khoo Kay Peng, owns a 9.3% stake in George Kent. MUI also has about 7% stake in Johan Holdings Bhd, another company controlled by Tan.

George Kent’s share price gained two sen, or 4%, yesterday to close at 52 sen, which gave it a market value of RM100.1 million. The stock has gained some 21% since the beginning of the year.

The company reported a net profit of RM5.87 million or 2.6 sen a share for the nine months ended Oct 31, 2008, on a turnover of RM80.18 million. The company’s net assets stood at 78 sen per share as at Oct 31, 2008.

rizalhakim

February 20th, 2009, 03:27 AM

Pantai plans expansion, takeovers among options
By Vasantha GanesanPublished: 2009/02/20

PRIVATE hospital operator Pantai Holdings Bhd plans to expand its network by five hospitals over the next five years, either by taking over rivals or building new hospitals.

Today, there are a total of nine Pantai hospitals. The group's last opening was in 2007.

Its chairman Tan Seri Mohamed Khatib said Pantai was looking at various expansion models including the option of owning the building, taking a long-term lease, setting up of a joint-venture or even through takeovers.

"We are negotiating with the people ... we are looking for a win-win solution," Mohamed Khatib said.

Pantai Holdings is wholly-owned by Pantai Irama Ventures Sdn Bhd, which in turn is 60 per cent held by Khazanah Nasional Bhd and 40 per cent by Singapore's Parkway Holdings Ltd.

Khazanah also has a 24 per cent stake in Parkway.

Group managing director Faisal Ismail when asked where the location of the new hospitals will be, indicated that it could be in the Klang Valley and the Iskandar region in Johor.

Mohamed Khatib and Faisal were speaking to reporters following the launch of "The Rebirth of Pantai".

The branding exercise will see all hospitals under the group now being referred to as Pantai Hospital - followed by the location of the hospital.

Mohamed Khatib added that the refreshed branding also marks its future plans, to expand beyond Malaysia and into the regional and global healthcare market.

However, its priority still lies in enhancing its existing network and building its chain in Malaysia.

On its performance in the current year, given the economic slowdown, Pantai's executive director Dr Wong Chiang Yin said: "Compared to 2008, we hope there is growth. We do not expect it to be robust. If growth is slow we will not be surprised."

In the first nine months ended September 30 2008, revenue grew by 15 per cent compared to the same period in 2007.

Pantai started its operations in Bangsar, Kuala Lumpur in 1974 with 68 beds and 20 medical specialists. Today, its nine hospitals have a total of 1,300 beds and an average of 80,000 admissions a year.

rizalhakim

February 20th, 2009, 03:27 AM

Nod for 45 new private hospitals
By Vasantha GanesanPublished: 2009/02/20

THE government has approved licences for a total of 45 new private hospitals and this will grow the number of beds at private hospitals by a third to 15,178.

As at end of 2008, Malaysia had a total of 209 registered hospitals with a total of 11,689 beds.

"Since the implementation of the Private Healthcare Facilities and Services Act 1998 and its regulations in 2006, we have received 55 applications for the establishment of new private hospitals, of which 45 have been approved," the Minister of Health Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai said.

The 45 hospitals have a total of 3,489 beds.

"...the number of private hospitals operating in the country has increased almost two fold from 135 at the end of December 2001 to 209 by the end of December 2008," he added.

Liow was speaking to reporters yesterday following the launch of "Rebirth of Pantai" for Pantai Holdings Bhd.

On whether the healthcare sector can expect anything from the second stimulus package, Liow said there will be some goodies in store to boost medical tourism and training for nurses.

"We should prepare for medical tourism and take it to the next level ... we should promote this sector further," he said, adding that medical tourism has been identified as a key sector to generate economic growth.

A second stimulus package to boost the economy will be announced on March 10 2009, adding to the RM7 billion stimulus package announced last November. - By Vasantha Ganesan

rizalhakim

February 20th, 2009, 03:29 AM

KPJ to boost health tourism in Indonesia
Published: 2009/02/20

THE KPJ Selangor Specialist Hospital (5878) sees a potential to grow its healthcare tourism business in Pekan Baru, Riau, Indonesia.

Its public relations manager, Hudza Mohamad, said a recent survey showed that more than 20 thousand patients from Pekan Baru and Medan received medical treatment in Malaysia last year.

"There is good potential and over the past few days I have been meeting with people related to the healthcare industry, either agents or individuals," he said.

In an interview at the Enterprise Asia Ekspo-Pekan Baru held in Riau recently, Hudza said the private hospital is also eyeing Medan, Cambodia and Vietnam to grow its health tourism business.
He said the KPJ Selangor Specialist Hospital is in a strategic location as it is close to the Subang Airport to serve the needs of patients from Pekan Baru.

"With the recent launch of Firefly Airline services to Pekan Baru and KPJ's participation in the expo organised by Malay Chamber of Commerce, we expect to boost the health tourism industry in Pekan Baru," he said.

The KPJ Healthcare Specialist Hospital is part of the KPJ Healthcare Bhd group. - Bernama

rizalhakim

February 20th, 2009, 04:17 AM

Pantai Holdings plans five more hospitals

It is looking at acquisitions or mergers with various parties

KUALA LUMPUR: Pantai Holdings Bhd, which currently has nine hospitals in its stable, is targeting to add five more hospitals by 2013.

Chairman Tan Sri Mohamed Khatib Abdul Hamid said the company was “always in talks” with various parties for a possible acquisition or merger of hospitals.

“We’re not saying there’s an acquisition soon but our target is to have five more hospitals in the next five years,” he told reporters after the launch of the company’s new brand identity by Health Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai yesterday.

Khatib said the company’s rebranding exercise would not only give the hospitals under the group a refreshed corporate identity but also the opportunity to consolidate all their operations to achieve synergistic benefits and efficiency, with the ultimate aim of providing better quality medical services to patients.

Executive director (chief executive officer - hospitals division) Dr Wong Chiang Yin said with the completion of the rebranding exercise, all hospitals in the group would have standardised administrative procedures.

“We have also housed all our purchases under one roof, which helps cut cost,” he said.

On the impact of the global economic downturn on the private healthcare industry, Wong said: “The industry is bound to be affected. We expect slightly lower growth this year, compared with the previous year.”

He, however, declined to give figures.

On expansion plans, Wong said there were a lot of things to consider before an acquisition/merger or any form of joint-venture was possible.

“Funds aside, it is important to find the right business partner,” he said.

Group managing director Faisal Ismail said another issue was getting sufficient doctors, nurses and specialists to run the hospital given the current shortage of such personnel.

Liow, meanwhile, said Malaysia had one of the best healthcare systems in the region and the number of private hospitals in operation had increased to 209 by end-2008 from 135 at end-2001.

Khazanah Nasional Bhd has a 60% stake in Pantai and the balance 40% is owned by Singapore hospital operator Parkway Holdings Ltd. Khazanah also has a 24% stake in Parkway Holdings.

rizalhakim

March 6th, 2009, 03:10 AM

Hospital Woos Malaysian Professionals To Come Home

KUALA LUMPUR, March 5 (Bernama) -- Prince Court Medical Centre will continue to woo Malaysian healthcare professionals to come home by offering them the same world-class working atmosphere.

Its chief executive officer, Stuart D. Rowley, said the professionals would be happy to come back because they are used to working in world-class services.

"We can offer them here when they come back.

There are opportunities for them to establish their practices back in Malaysia," he told reporters after signing a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Meuraxa Hospital of Banda Aceh here, Thursday.

The hospital is Malaysia's internationally-accredited private healthcare facility with 300 single-bedded rooms and suites and offers an exclusive touch of a world-class hotel to their patients.

Rowley said another four doctors and 12 nurses would join the hospital.

"Malaysia has been losing a lot of its talent for a number of years. We call it brain drain. We believe what we can offer here will be the brain gain," he said.

He said even the Malaysian nurses working in the Middle East had more experience.

"They work with different cultures so they bring back the richness," he said.

Rowley also said a number of senior clinical specialists working in Australia and UK had indicated they wanted to bring their families back because they wanted their children to experience their culture.

On the MOU, Rowley said, it was the hospital's first step towards establishing a strong corporate responsibility programme in the region since commencing operations in July 2008.

"Among others, the MOU details the development of a structured Continuous Professional Development Programme (CPD), Standard Operating Procedures and quality and safety indices for patients.

"It also extends to providing education and training expertise as well as advice on development and accreditation to the Indonesian district healthcare facility," he said.

He said the 24-month development initiative would involve attachment programmes at the hospital.

The CPD Programme is expected to commence this month, said Rowley.

Also present at the ceremony were the mayor of Banda Aceh, Mawardi Nurdin and deputy director of health (medical), Department of Health, Federal Territory Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya, Dr Supathiratheavy Rasiah.

The Austrian and Hungarian governments rebuilt Meuraxa Hospital after the devastating earthquake and tsunami destroyed the old facility in 2004.

The RM544 million hospital, owned by Petroliam Nasional Bhd, serves not only the rich but also the low income and the less fortunate.

It offers medical services for the less fortunate through its corporate social programme whereby free operations are given to children with cleft lips and palate, bone and muscle cancer as well as hole in the heart.

-- BERNAMA

rizalhakim

March 6th, 2009, 03:13 AM

Prince Court Hospital Also Serves Less Fortunate

KUALA LUMPUR, March 5 (Bernama) -- The services of the RM544 million Prince Court Medical Centre, owned by Petronas, are not only for the rich but also for those with low income and the less fortunate.

Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Senator Datuk Amirsham A. Aziz said the hospital offered medical services for the less fortunate through its corporate social programme.

"Free operations are given to children with cleft lips and palate, bone and muscle cancer as well as hole in the heart," he said during the question and answer session at the Dewan Rakyat Thursday.

The medical treatment for bone and muscle cancer also include chemotherapy and physiotherapy, he said when answering the question of Hee Loy Sian (PKR-Petaling Jaya South) who wanted to know the cost of building the medical centre and whether it offered services to the less fortunate.

Amirsham said the hospital also provided free eye test in schools and worked together with Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia to provide specialist training in its efforts to bring forth experts in the field of bone and muscles.

Located in Kuala Lumpur's city centre, the medical centre was established to provide international level medical services besides meeting the government's call to make Malaysia a centre of medical tourism.

Among its medical services include specialist treatment in the areas of cancer, plastic surgery, gynaecology and paediatrics.

-- BERNAMA

rizalhakim

March 7th, 2009, 04:32 AM

Prince Court sasar tarik 30% pelanggan antarabangsa

KUALA LUMPUR 6 Mac - Hospital swasta milik Petronas, Pusat Perubatan Prince Court (PCMC) yang baru dibuka tahun lalu menyasarkan pertumbuhan perniagaannya kekal stabil pada tahun ini dengan lebih 30 peratus pesakit antarabangsa.

Ketua Pegawai Eksekutifnya, Stuart D. Rowley berkata, orang ramai dijangka tetap memilih PCMC untuk mendapatkan rawatan walaupun hospital itu merupakan pusat perubatan yang berstatus mewah.

"Kami yakin menerima pesakit antarabangsa dan tempatan walaupun berlaku krisis ekonomi global dan bilangannya tidak akan berkurangan kerana kami menawarkan infrastruktur yang lengkap dan moden,'' katanya.

Beliau berkata demikian selepas menandatangani memorandum persefahaman (MoU) di antara PCMC dengan Hospital Meuraxa (Meuraxa), Banda Aceh, Indonesia mengenai Program Pembangunan Profesional Lanjutan (CPD) di sini baru-baru ini.

Turut hadir ialah Datuk Bandar Banda Aceh, Mawardi Nurdin dan Timbalan Pengarah Kesihatan (Perubatan), Jabatan Kesihatan, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur dan Putrajaya, Dr. R. Supathiratheavy.

Program CPD akan dijalankan selama dua tahun di antara kedua-dua buah pusat perubatan berkenaan bermula bulan ini.

Ia melibatkan beberapa bahagian penting seperti pembaikan kualiti perubatan, bilik pembedahan, pengurusan penjagaan kritikal, pengurusan kemudahan dan pengemasan, pengurusan makanan serta perkhidmatan kecemasan.

Ketika ditanya mengenai doktor terlatih yang berkhidmat di PCMC, Rowley menambah, pihaknya mengambil doktor-doktor profesional tempatan yang pulang dari luar negara.

Selain doktor, kebanyakan jururawat PCMC merupakan kakitangan perubatan yang berpengalaman dan pernah berkhidmat di Asia Barat.

Katanya, ia merupakan langkah tepat kerana tidak membazirkan guna tenaga selain memberi nilai tambah kepada PCMC sendiri.

Sementara itu, Mawardi berkata, pihaknya berharap program CPD itu dapat meningkatkan kualiti perkhidmatan Meuraxa yang merupakan hospital umum yang masih memberikan perkhidmatan kepada penduduk Banda Aceh yang pernah dilanda ombak besar tsunami pada 26 Disember 2004.

rizalhakim

March 11th, 2009, 06:46 AM

Putrajaya to have cancer institute

THE government plans to open a RM200 million National Cancer Insititute in Putrajaya similar to that in Australia. Deputy Health Minister Datuk Dr Abdul Latiff Ahmad said this when replying to a question by Ahmad Lai Bujang (BN-Sibuti) who had asked for the measures taken to increase cancer awareness among Malaysians. Latiff said the government had organised 3,200 lectures and 400,000 exhibitions on breast cancer besides printing brochures and organising forums.

nazrey

March 11th, 2009, 06:03 PM

HOSPITAL SERDANG
by famili88
http://www.flickr.com/photos/9496861@N02/3031538958/

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3286/3031538958_3ea731e882_o.jpg

nazrey

March 11th, 2009, 06:04 PM

Sg Buloh Hospital
by khulism
http://www.flickr.com/photos/khulism/2248393242/

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2037/2248393242_2e8a516431_b.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2366/2247599863_4882130cb8_b.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2067/2247601433_0c301cd074_b.jpg

nazrey

March 12th, 2009, 05:28 PM

Putrajaya hospital
http://www.flickr.com/photos/25094495@N07/2380021132/

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2105/2380021132_4f12e28c03_o.jpg

rizalhakim

March 18th, 2009, 04:12 AM

Malaysia Still Behind In Medical Tourism, Says NCCIM

JOHOR BAHARU, March 17 (Bernama) -- Although Malaysia is an Islamic country, tourists from the Middle East make Thailand and Singapore their choice of destination over Malaysia when it comes to getting medical treatment.

Making this statement, Secretary General of the National Chambers of Commerce and Industry Malaysia (NCCIM), Datuk Syed Hussien Al-Habshee said the lack of effective marketing strategy was the reason for Malaysia being left behind the two countries in the multi billion ringgit medical tourism sector.

"Although we have the clear edge in terms of religion, Muslim hospital staff, halal food and other aspects, Middle East tourists prefer to go to Thailand and Singapore.

"Due to this, the country continues to be left far behind the two neighbouring countries in the sector which is growing annually and worth billions of ringgit," he told Bernama in an interview here Tuesday.

Just last year alone, 6,000 medical tourists from the Middle East went to Thailand for various forms of treatment in the country's hospitals.

He said the Middle East medical tourists arrivals in Thailand were either financed by their respective government agencies or private funds.

Syed Hussien, who is also former Malaysian Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates, said there needed to be more integrated strategies for the sector from government agencies involved.

The three ministries involved, namely the Ministry of Health, Ministry of International Trade and Industry and Tourism Ministry should have a strategy to promote and market Malaysia as a premier medical tourism destination, he said.

He also said that in his recent trip to Muscat, Oman, to attend the International Tourism Market (ITM) conference and exhibition, he found Thailand aggressively promoting its medical tourism facilities to tourists from the country, with medical officers attending to special queries.

Syed Hussien said there was a need for Malaysia during its tourism promotion to also focus on the special area of medical tourism.

This will be in line with the government's objectives to shift the country's economy to being services based, he added.

-- BERNAMA

rizalhakim

March 18th, 2009, 05:08 AM

http://www.pdcp.com.my/images/si_1.jpg

RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT AT BANDAR CASSIA, BATU KAWAN
2 storey terrace
70 units
Built-up 1,650 sq.ft. (corner unit)
Built-up 1,614 sq.ft. (intermediate unit)
Plot size 22’ x 72’
“Internal garden” concept
Family area on the upper floor overlooking internal garden
Spacious master bedroom with balcony, dressing area and attached bath
North-south orientation on all units

http://www.pdcp.com.my/images/ds_1.jpg

LOW COST RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT AT BANDAR CASSIA, BATU KAWAN
2 storey low medium cost terrace
195 units
built-up 777 sq.ft. (corner & intermediate unit)
plot size 18’ x 40’ (intermediate unit)
plot size 36’ x 40’ (corner unit)
3 bedrooms : 1 on ground floor & 2 on first floor
2 bathrooms : bathroom with toilet on ground floor and shower on upper floor
only 4 km to Penang Second Bridge

http://www.pdcp.com.my/new_project_detail.02.aspx

rizalhakim

March 19th, 2009, 04:19 AM

Promoting medical tourism in JB
By MOHD FARHAAN SHAH

JOHOR BARU: The Regency Specialist Hospital (RSH) hopes to promote medical tourism in the state by luring patients from Singapore and Indonesia.

RSH chairman and managing director Dr Gan See Khem said that the hospitals strategic location and state of the art equipment would be ideal to lure people especially foreigners to seek treatment at the 218-bed hospital.

“It is also more cost effective for Singaporeans to take an hour’s drive here to seek treatment,” she said, adding that their hospital doctors were well trained including some serving in the Singapore hospitals.

Dr Gan added that Singaporeans travelling abroad to seek treatment was not something new, as some of them even travelled to places like Thailand for surgeries and other healthcare services.

“As such, for them to travel to Malaysia to seek treatment is not something new due to our close cultural and geographical proximity,” she added in an e-mail interview.

Dr Gan added that RSH had treated patents from Singapore and its sister hospital in Malacca, had treated a few hundred Singaporean patients last year.

She was commenting on a recent media report by Singaporean Health Minister Khaw Boon Wan that Singaporeans could save money by using JB nursing homes.

On the RHS’s operations, Dr Gan said the hospital had treated 900 patients since the hospital began operation at the end of last year. She said most of the patients who sought treatment were mainly locals and expatriates.

The hospital recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Ministry of Health for the supply of screened blood from the government.

With the MOU, RSH could participate in joint blood donation programmes in the future.

rizalhakim

March 23rd, 2009, 05:33 AM

Pantai may have 10 hospitals by year-end
By Vasantha GanesanPublished: 2009/03/23

PANTAI Holdings Bhd, a company controlled by Khazanah Nasional Bhd, may add at least one more hospital to its network of nine by year-end, says group managing director Faisal Ismail.

Pantai Holdings, which had its last hospital opening in 2007, recently said that it is in negotiations with several parties to expand its portfolio of hospitals either through acquisitions or building new ones.

"We are looking at both greenfield projects as well as merger and acquisition (M&A) opportunities," group managing director Faisal Ismail said.

"M&A deals potentially increase revenue as they have an immediate impact. We could have 10 hospitals by year-end ... but talks are still preliminary," Faisal told Business Times in an interview.

When asked if it is a good time to buy hospitals now, Faisal said that opportunities may arise where there may be hospitals which are under pressure and are not performing well.

Today, Pantai Hospital is the second-largest hospital chain in Malaysia, operating a total of 1,300 beds of the 1,409 licences it holds. It hopes to reach full capacity by year-end.

Pantai Holdings is whollyowned by Pantai Irama Ventures Sdn Bhd, which in turn is 60 per cent held by Khazanah Nasional Bhd and 40 per cent by Singapore's Parkway Holdings Ltd. Khazanah also has a 24 per cent stake in Parkway.

In the medium term, the Pantai group hopes that it will be able to increase its network of hospitals in Malaysia to about 14. Locations may include both the peninsula and Sabah and Sarawak.

"We see strong demand in Sabah and Sarawak. Therefore, we see a possibility of two (openings) there and another two possibly in the East Coast.

"We also expect at least one in the Iskandar Development Region in Johor and one in Perak," he said.

Last month, Pantai Holdings signed a memorandum of understanding with YNH Property Bhd to build, lease and operate a private hospital in the Manjung Point township development located in Sri Manjung, Perak. The hospital is expected to be ready in 2012.

Meanwhile, when asked if the hospital would be keen on managing other hospitals in Malaysia as opposed to owning and operating, Faisal said: "We have one such contract with Pantai Hospital Utara for a period of five years. However, over the next three to five years we are not hungry for management contracts."

rizalhakim

March 23rd, 2009, 05:36 AM

Pantai mulls setting up polyclinics locally
Published: 2009/03/23

INTEGRATED healthcare group Pantai Holdings Bhd is studying the possibility of opening polyclinics and/or diagnostic centres in Malaysia.

This forms part of the group's plans to build its brand as well as leverage on the already established Pantai brandname.

Group managing director Faisal Ismail said that the move is also in line with its similar venture in Surabaya, Indonesia.

This diagnostic centre set up on a joint venture called PT Pantai Bethany Care International will be operational this June.

"We plan to leverage on our brandname. We are open to having polyclinics or diagnostic centres here as it makes sense to do so. Since Pantai is already in Indonesia, it is only logical to also consider Malaysia," Faisal said

"Pantai is looking at smaller towns for this venture and possibly use it as a referral centre," he said.

According to Faisal, these centres are distinguished from clinics in terms of doctors, size and services.

"The polyclinics will have several doctors and visitations from specialist doctors. It will also have more diagnostic instruments and screening facility," he said.

"In terms of size, it may be about two shoplots," he added.

Asked on whether it will open new outlets or take over existing players, Faisal said: "We would have to see if it is worthwhile to start on our own as this would take time. Alternatively, if we take over existing ones, it will immediately add value (to the group)".

rizalhakim

April 14th, 2009, 06:43 AM

Singapore group upbeat on private healthcare

JOHOR BARU: Singapore-based Health Management International Ltd Group (HMI) sees good long-term prospects in the private healthcare segment in Iskandar Malaysia.

It has invested RM100mil in the 218-bed Regency Specialist Hospital (RSH) in Seri Alam township which started operations last November. HMI’s first hospital in Malaysia was the 235-bed Mahkota Medical Centre (MMC) in Malacca.

The township is located in the Eastern Gate Development which covers Pasir Gudang-Tanjung Langsat – one of the five flagship zones in Iskandar Malaysia.

“Johor with almost four million people and the influx of local and foreign investors will contribute to the growth of Iskandar,’’ said Regency Specialist Hospital Sdn Bhd chief executive officer, Lee So Chow.

The increasing population and an improving lifestyle will create higher demand for better quality healthcare services, she reckoned.

Johor’s proximity and good transportation links via land and air to Singapore, Indonesia and the rest of the region could attract patients to come for medical treatment here, she said.

Johor Baru is the fourth most populated city in Malaysia with a population of 876,000 (2006 census) while the district has a population of 1.73 million. Singapore and Johor Baru has a combined population of 6.49 million, which is one of the highest in Southeast Asia.

“Currently, 95% of our patients are Malaysians and expatriates living in Johor and the balance are foreigners,’’ she said, adding that as a member of the HMI Group, the Seri Alam hospital would be in a good position to attract Singaporeans as prices were about 50% lower, on average.

Lee lauded the Singapore government’s move to allow Singaporeans and the republic’s permanent residents to use their Medisave to seek healthcare treatment in Singapore-linked hospitals overseas.

rizalhakim

April 15th, 2009, 06:08 AM

State on medical tourism map
By Jaswinder Kaur

KOTA KINABALU: A skin tightening treatment that does not require lasers or needles is helping to place Sabah on the lucrative medical tourism map.

Thermage, developed in the United States, uses a radio frequency technology to gently heat the skin's lower layers resulting in the building of natural collagen to tighten it.

Several tourists from Australia and New Zealand have turned up at the office of consultant plastic surgeon Dr Charles Lee to have the procedure.

Dr Lee said most of the patients who have come for the procedure since he began performing it three years ago have been Malaysians, and that many foreigners were interested in getting the procedure done here.

"This procedure allows a patient to leave after about two hours. There is no need for a follow-up or to stay indoors.

"People who are here on holiday, or who may be in the country for other medical procedures, can have it done."

He said the global beauty industry is worth RM576 billion annually, including make-up and hair care, and demand for non-surgical procedures for uplifting skin has increased.

Thermage is only available in Malaysia from physicians who have been trained to use the method.

Dr Lee received the Thermage Pinnacle Award on Monday from Solta Medical South Asia area managing director Wolfgang Kramer for recording the highest usage of Thermage in Malaysia, beating 11 other physicians based in Peninsular Malaysia.

rizalhakim

April 16th, 2009, 05:00 AM

KUALA LUMPUR: The National Cancer Council (Makna) plans to build a low-cost hospital.

Besides having research facilities, the hospital will also offer treatment to cancer patients, said Makna president Datuk Mohd Farid Ariffin yesterday at a ceremony during which Makna handed out grants to five researchers.

He stressed the importance of recognising, encouraging and collaborating with researchers in discovering a cure for cancer.

"We hope the seeds sown by the young researchers will come to fruition."

Academy of Sciences Malaysia president Tan Sri Dr Yusof Basiron hoped the fight against cancer through research could be done extensively and aggressively.

The researchers received RM150,000 to fund their researches on the disease.

The grants are disbursed under Makna's cancer research award programme with the cooperation of the Academy of Sciences of Malaysia.

One of the recipients, Inderjeet Singh, who received RM26,000, is doing research on delivery devices for anti-cancer drugs.

"I want to contribute something vital to society, so I applied for this grant," said the 23-year-old who is pursuing his postgraduate studies in pharmacy at the University of Nottingham's Malaysia campus.

rizalhakim

April 22nd, 2009, 04:22 AM

Columbia Asia to invest RM365m in 6 new hospitals
By Vasantha GanesanPublished: 2009/04/22

HOSPITAL operator Columbia Asia is a classic example of healthcare being a recession-proof business.

In an environment where most business are slowing down expansion, US-based Columbia Asia Sdn Bhd has announced it will invest RM365 million to build six hospitals and offer jobs to 1,800 people here.

Columbia Asia, 30 per cent held by the Employees Provident Fund and 70 per cent by Columbia Asia group of companies, will have a total of 11 hospitals in Malaysia by end-2010.

Chairman of Columbia Asia Group Rick Evans said that as a community hospital focusing on low-cost healthcare, it has not noticed any change in business.

The hospital chain charges 75-80 per cent of what larger rivals charge.

"Therefore, we have plans for expansion," Evans told reporters at a press conference to announce its commitment in Malaysia.

The investment includes land, building and equipment.

Columbia Asia, which now contributes over half of revenue at regional level, is trying to finance all 11 hospitals in one loan package.

"We hope this will be through sukuk bonds," Evans said, adding that the issuance could be to the tune of RM300 million.

Money from the bond sale will be used to refinance a RM116 million syndicated Islamic loan taken from Bank Rakyat, RHB Islamic Bank and Bank Muamalat Malaysia Bhd as well as for its new projects.

Since its entry into the country in mid-1990s, Columbia Asia has invested RM625 million which includes the new investment.

Columbia Asia, which prides itself in the fact that all but two of its 1,500 workforce are Malaysians, is now operating in Shah Alam, Seremban, Puchong, Taiping and Miri.

The new hospitals, which will bring the number of hospital beds to about 880 by end of 2010, will be located in Nusajaya, Johor and Bintulu, Sarawak.

The other new hospitals located within the Klang Valley will be in Balakong, Bukit Rimau, Kota Damansara and Setapak.

Evans said when the hospitals are ready, each hospital will contribute RM3 million in revenue every month or a total of RM396 million annually when all 11 hospitals are operational.

However, this does not include doctors fee which is usually 25 per cent to 30 per cent of all hospital revenue.

Columbia Asia hospitals usually take 12 months to break even and another 12 months to provide return to shareholders.

By 2010, Columbia Asia group of companies hopes to also have expanded its regional presence in India (18 hospitals), Vietnam (three) and Indonesia (one).

rizalhakim

April 22nd, 2009, 04:40 AM

Columbia Asia To Offer 1,800 Jobs With New Hospitals

KUALA LUMPUR, April 21 (Bernama) -- About 1,800 jobs will be created when Columbia Asia Sdn Bhd's new hospitals become operational by end of 2010, group chairman Rick Evans said today.

Evans said the healthcare provider would invest RM365 million to build six mid sized community hospitals in the country, with each hospital having about 300 workers.

Currently, it has about 1,500 employees, with 99 percent of them being locals, he said at a media briefing here today.

Evans said the new hospitals would be located in Bintulu in Sarawak, Nusanjaya in Johor, and Bukit Rimau, Balakong, Bukit Damansara and Setapak in the Klang Valley.

Currently, the group has five hospitals in Miri in Sarawak, Seremban in Negeri Sembilan, Taiping in Perak, and Puchong and Shah Alam in Selangor.

To date, it has invested US$120 million in its Malaysian operations, he said.

"The Nusanjaya and Bintulu hospitals have been 50 percent constructed and are expected to open later this year while another four hospitals will be ready by end of 2010," Evans said.

With over 60 percent of revenue coming from third-party payers, Columbia Asia managed to record RM3 million in revenue monthly from each hospital, he said.

"Our focus is third-party payers such as insurance companies, employers and the middle-income group. About 60 percent of the revenue comes from them and the percentage is growing," he added.

Treating more than 20,000 patients per month, the Malaysian operations are contributing more than 50 percent to the group's revenue, Evans said.

-- BERNAMA

rizalhakim

April 24th, 2009, 08:32 AM

Columbia Asia tawar 1,800 peluang pekerjaan

KUALA LUMPUR 23 April - Columbia Asia Sdn. Bhd. (Columbia Asia), anak syarikat Kumpulan Columbia Asia menawarkan peluang pekerjaan dalam bidang perubatan kepada 1,800 rakyat tempatan menjelang akhir tahun depan.

Pengambilan itu bertujuan mengisi keperluan kesemua enam buah hospital baru bernilai RM365 juta di Malaysia yang dijangka siap sepenuhnya pada 2010.

Pengerusi kumpulannya, Rick Evans berkata, setiap hospital berkenaan memerlukan khidmat seramai 300 kakitangan.

Katanya, sehingga kini, pihaknya mempunyai 1,500 kakitangan dengan 99 peratus daripadanya adalah rakyat tempatan.

"Kami mengambil doktor perubatan yang mendapat pendidikan bercampur seperti ijazah perubatan dari Malaysia dan seterusnya menyambung pelajaran ke luar negara.

"Begitu juga kepada mereka yang menamatkan ijazah perubatan di luar negara dan melanjutkan pelajaran di Malaysia, kami tetap mengambil mereka untuk bekerja dengan kami,'' katanya di sini baru-baru ini.

Sehingga kini, selain Malaysia, Hospital Columbia Asia juga bertapak di India, Vietnam dan Indonesia.

Syarikat itu, secara keseluruhan memiliki 13 buah hospital di Asia.

Hospital tersebut dianggarkan menerima kedatangan 20,000 pesakit luar sebulan di Malaysia manakala di India menerima sebanyak 840 pesakit luar setiap hari.

Mengenai perancangan untuk membina hospital itu di Singapura, Evans berkata, negara itu bukan pasaran yang baik.

Menurutnya, pasaran negara itu kecil dan menelan belanja yang tinggi berikutan ketiadaan tanah dan tempat yang sesuai.

"Buat apa kita perlu bina hospital di Singapura sedangkan kita sudah mempunyai Hospital Columbia di Nusajaya, Johor yang hanya mengambil masa perjalanan selama lima minit dari Tambak Johor,'' ujarnya.

rizalhakim

May 4th, 2009, 08:53 AM

Medical tourism not healthy’
By LOH FOON FONG

KUALA LUMPUR: Overall quality of healthcare in the country will suffer if medical tourism is allowed to sap medical staff in public hospitals, health experts warn.

North Carolina’s Chapel Hill University’s Maternal and Child Health associate professor Trude Bennett said the glamour and profitability of medical tourism tended to “crowd out” public health.

“Government resources such as land, financial subsidies and tax incentives tend to be diverted to start up private facilities with high technology.

“Meanwhile public health services and primary care will be left to languish,” said Bennett in her speech on medical tourism at the Health Systems in Transition workshop on Thursday.

University Malaya Medical Centre infectious disease head Prof Dr Adeeba Kamarulzaman added that the lure of medical tourism could further lead to brain drain, resulting in the lack of senior doctors and specialists to mentor younger medical staff.

“When that happens, the quality of staff produced would be low and those who leave for the private sector too would be of low quality.

“Without a check-and-balance on medical tourism, the public and the private sector would be affected as well,” said Dr Adeeba.

On whether private specialists could set aside some time to return to the public sector to teach young doctors, Dr Adeeba said such a scheme had worked well in Australia but not Malay-sia.

“Here, the specialists tend to focus more on their own practice and less on the teaching part,” she said.

Universiti Sains Malaysia Women’s Development Research Centre director Prof Datin Dr Rashidah Shuib said going to private hospitals was not an equitable choice for the poor.

“There must be some guiding principles and not just wealth creation,” she said, adding that the Government’s policy on medical tourism needed to be debated.

rizalhakim

May 6th, 2009, 05:30 AM

Government buying private hospital for RM245mil
By MUGUNTAN VANAR

KOTA KINABALU: The Federal Government is buying over the Sabah Medical Centre (SMC) for RM245mil as an immediate measure to overcome the critical shortage of hospital beds here.

Datuk Seri Najib Razak said the Government was in the final stages of taking over the SMC.

“We are committed to providing the best available healthcare for Sabahans,” he said at a meet-the-people gathering at the historic Padang Merdeka in his first visit as Prime Minister to the state.

Dismissing talks that the acquisition would cost the Government nearly RM450mil, he said they would fast-track the SMC takeover, adding that the Government was aware of the urgency to see to the people’s health needs following the closure of the Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH) main tower block.

The tower block was declared structurally unsafe late last year.

The Government would refurbish the recently-completed SMC located in suburban Damai, 2km from downtown here, Najib said.

Later, Najib said the refurbishment cost depended on the requirements set by the Health Mi**nistry, adding that SMC would temporarily rent two floors from the Govern*ment during the purchase process.

Previously the Government had acquired the first SMC building in Likas and converted it into a women and children’s hospital, now known as the Likas Hospital.

Najib said RM500mil of the special RM1bil allocation pledged to Sabah had already been delivered for various development projects.

The Prime Minister, in his speech, reminded Sabah Barisan Nasional leaders that they were servants of the people.

He said leaders should see for themselves the everyday situations faced by the ordinary folk so that they could solve problems faced by them.

“As elected representatives, there is no need to wait for invitation, bunga manggar, red carpets or TV cameras. We need to work for the people.

“I don’t want leaders who are feared. I want leaders who are appreciated and respected,” he said.

He reiterated that Sabah, with its more than 40 ethnic groups, best reflected the 1Malaysia concept.

Opposition Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) welcomed the Govern*ment’s move to buy over the hospital as it would help overcome the current problems with healthcare services.

SAPP Wanita chief Melanie Chia said that while the announcement was good news, the purchase was only an interim solution.

“Sabah still needs a new general hospital apart from the construction of a twin tower to replace the main tower block of the QEH,” Chia said.

nazrey

May 6th, 2009, 02:27 PM

400 extra beds after takeover of Sabah hospital
NST Online » Local News
2009/05/05

KOTA KINABALU: Another 400 beds for patients will be made available once the government completes a deal to buy the Sabah Medical Centre, a private hospital, here soon.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak yesterday announced the approval to buy the SMC in Luyang for RM245 million, as the government continued with its plan to build a new hospital in Kinarut.

Najib made the announcement at a meet-the-people session at Padang Merdeka.

"The purchase will be made as soon as possible."

Najib said the medical centre needed some renovation work but believed it will not be too costly because the SMC also planned to rent two floors from the government.

Queen Elizabeth Hospital's main tower block was deemed unsafe for occupation last October when the concrete building, built using sea sand in the late 1970s, began to show cracks.

The block housed 250 beds, eight surgery rooms, an intensive care ward, radiology services unit, a pharmacy and forensics unit, among others.

Other units within the Queen Elizabeth Hospital grounds remain operational but the closure has created a major void in its services, to a point where patients had to be transferred to hospitals at nearby districts.

There are at least 2,000 employees based at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital complex, including 400 doctors. It is also the main referral centre for all district hospitals in Sabah, as well as Labuan, and Lawas and Limbang in Sarawak.

rizalhakim

May 8th, 2009, 05:16 AM

Langkawi gets its sea ambulance

LANGKAWI: The much-awaited sea ambulance has finally arrived in Lang*kawi.

The sea ambulance is a ferry which has been equipped with the latest medical equipment. It also has a room for patients and a medical team to accompany them during the journey.

Health Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai said the ferry would be used to send patients to the mainland for treatment and for sea rescue.

http://thestar.com.my/archives/2009/5/8/nation/n_18mahathir.jpg
Emergency ship: Liow, Ong and Dr Mahathir viewing the sickbay of the sea ambulance ‘Suhail’ at Perdana Quay in Langkawi yesterday. With them are (from left) the director-general of the marine Department Datuk Kapt. Ahmad Othman, Hospital Langkawi director Dr Selahudden Abdul Aziz and Langkawi MP Datuk Abu Bakar Taib.

“The people in Langkawi had been asking for such an ambulance and now the Government has fulfilled its promise to provide one.

“Patients from Langkawi previously were transferred using the normal ferry or a chartered ferry,” he told re**porters after jointly launching the sea ambulance with Transport Minister Da****tuk Seri Ong Tee Keat at the Telaga Harbour Park here yesterday.

Liow said the ministry spent about RM500,000 last year to charter ferries to send patients with chronic illnesses to the mainland, adding that with this sea ambulance, the ministry was able to reduce costs and dependency on such ferries.

“In 2007 and 2008, 154 and 142 pa**tients respectively were sent to mainland hospitals using these ferries.”

During the same press conference, Ong said that the sea ambulance in Langkawi was among seven approved under the Eighth and Ninth Malaysia Plan.

“The other six sea ambulances were placed in Port Klang, Mersing, Pulau Tio**man, Pulau Pangkor, Kuala Tereng*ganu and Labuan. The ambulances cost RM56mil.”

On another note, Liow said that the Government would beef up its preven*tive measures to prevent the spread of influenza A (H1N1) to the country.

“I will be attending a conference with my counterparts from Asean to discuss ways that we could work together to prevent the virus from entering our countries. So far, the A (H1N1) has not not hit any South-East Asian countries.”

rizalhakim

May 11th, 2009, 10:00 AM

KPJ Healthcare cadang bina hospital baru

JOHOR BAHRU 8 Mei - KPJ Healthcare Bhd., bercadang membina sebuah hospital baru bernilai lebih RM1 juta di Bandar Dato' Onn, di sini bagi menyediakan rawatan terbaik kepada rakyat.

Ketua Eksekutif Johor Corporation (JCorp), Tan Sri Muhammad Ali Hashim (gambar) berkata, hospital moden dengan kemudahan dan peralatan canggih berkenaan akan dilengkapi antara 250 hingga 300 katil apabila siap kelak.

"Pada waktu ini, syarikat sedang dalam proses berbincang dengan syarikat, Johor Land Bhd. (JLand) bagi tujuan berkenaan," katanya pada sidang akhbar mengumumkan prestasi kewangan JCorp di sini semalam.

Turut hadir Pengarah Urusan KPJ Healthcare Berhad, Datin Paduka Siti Sa'diah Sheikh Bakir.

KPJ Healthcare merupakan sebuah syarikat di bawah Kumpulan JCorp yang menceburi perniagaan perubatan dan kini mengendalikan sebanyak 19 hospital di seluruh negara.

Muhammad Ali memberitahu, penubuhan hospital berkenaan juga perlu mendapat kelulusan kerajaan terlebih dahulu sebelum dilaksanakan.

Sementara itu, beliau berkata, pencapaian KPJ Healthcare terus memberangsangkan apabila meraih keuntungan sebelum cukai melebihi RM1 bilion selama dua tahun berturut-turut.

Beliau berkata, kegawatan ekonomi global yang turut dirasai negara tidak menjejaskan prestasi syarikat termasuk jumlah pesakit dan orang ramai yang menerima rawatan di hospital-hospital di bawah KPJ Healthcare.

"Secara keseluruhan, hospital-hospital mencatatkan pertambahan jumlah pesakit dari dalam dan luar negara sebanyak lima peratus pada suku tahun pertama tahun ini," katanya.

Menurutnya, pesakit antarabangsa kebanyakannya dari Indonesia, Korea Selatan, Jepun, Somalia dan Singapura.

Dalam pada itu, beliau berkata, JCorp melalui Waqaf An-Nur Corporation Berhad menubuhkan Briged Waqaf sebagai sebuah pasukan bantuan bencana dan kebajikan.

Muhammad Ali berkata, pasukan berkenaan yang dianggotai syarikat-syarikat di bawah JCorp memberi perkhidmatan mencari, menyelamat dan sukarelawan kepada masyarakat.

"Antaranya, pasukan itu telah siap membina sebuah rumah warga tua di Kampung Sungai Redan, Ulu Tiram pada 15 Disember lalu," jelasnya.

nazrey

May 16th, 2009, 09:27 AM

Sabah Govt to start new private hospital
Saturday May 16, 2009

KOTA KINABALU: The Sabah Government is getting back into the healthcare business by establishing a private medical centre at the now disused Wisma Khidmat office block and supermarket here.

The RM100mil medical centre would be set up by a subsidiary of the state-owned Sabah Credit Corporation (SCC) Bhd, Chief Minister Datuk Musa Aman said.

“We feel that a private hospital is viable as the Sabah Medical Centre (SMC) is being acquired to become a public health facility,” he said after attending a briefing at the SCC office at Donggongon in Penampang yesterday.

The state government had set up the first SMC in Likas in the 1980s, which was subsequently privatised about 10 years later. The Federal Government later acquired it and the facility became the Likas Hospital for women and children.

The second SMC was built in Luyang. It will also be acquired by the Federal Government to overcome the bed shortage situation in Kota Kinabalu caused by the closure of the Queen Elizabeth Hospital tower block.

Meanwhile, Musa said he was pleased with the performance of the SCC which recorded a profit of RM37.8mil last year, a RM10mil increase compared to 2007.

“This reflects the efficient management of the SCC and it is an example for other state-owned statutory agencies to follow,” he said, noting that the SCC had recently retained its AA1 status by the Rating Agency of Malaysia.

The SCC, among others, provides loans for agriculture, light industries and property development projects.

In his briefing earlier, SCC general manager Datuk Vincent Pung said SCC had been operating profitably since 1997.

“We have evolved from being an agency dependent on the government to one that is helping to support the government,” he said.

rizalhakim

May 20th, 2009, 04:14 AM

Sime Darby plans 3rd hospital by 2012
By Zaidi Isham IsmailPublished: 2009/05/20

The new 300-bed hospital in Desa Park City near Bukit Menjalara Kepong, Kuala Lumpur, is expected to start operations by 2012

MALAYSIA'S largest conglomerate, Sime Darby Bhd (4197), is expected to open its third full-fledged hospital in Desa Park City near Bukit Menjalara Kepong, Kuala Lumpur, by 2012 to ride on the recession proof medical industry.

Sime Darby Healthcare chief executive officer Elaine Cheong Pek Yim said the group is in the midst of planning for the new 300-bed hospital, and a ground-breaking ceremony will be held by year-end to mark the start of construction works.

"The hospital, called Sime Darby Medical Desa Park City, will be built on a design, build and lease concept and is expected to start operations by 2012," Cheong told reporters in Selangor yesterday after forging a partnership with Medilink Network (PVT) Ltd of Bangladesh and Medilink (Beijing) TPA Services Co Ltd.

Cheong declined to reveal investment cost, but a Business Times report in 2006 estimated at the time that the cost of building the hospital, which also includes a supermarket, would be about RM350 million.
She added that the new hospital is designed by the Sime Darby group and built by Desa Park City developer, Perdana Park City Sdn Bhd, who will then hand it over to Sime Darby upon completion.

Perdana ParkCity is a member of Miri-based Samling Group.

"The hospital will offer tertiary care and it will be a growing business within the Sime Darby group in the future," said Cheong.

The Sime Darby group owns and operate the 393-bed Sime Darby Medical Centre (previously known as Subang Jaya Medical Centre) and the Sime Darby Speacialist Centre Megah in Petaling Jaya. It also owns and operate the Sime Darby Nursing Health and Sciences College managed by its healthcare arm Sime Darby Healthcare Sdn Bhd.

Sources said the hospital could even be bigger than the Sime Darby Medical Centre in Subang Jaya as it will cater to a larger affluent group at nearby densely-populated areas such as Kota Damansara, Damansara Perdana, Bandar Sri Damansara, and Mutiara Damansara.

The hospial will also be within 5km of Bandar Utama, Taman Tun Dr Ismail, Sri Hartamas, Mont' Kiara, Bukit Damansara and the upscale neighbourhood of Petaling Jaya.

Taking into account the population within the Desa Parkcity township, the population in the area has a total disposable income of some RM550 million a month.

In a previous interview, Perdana ParkCity said it was prepared to offer 2.03ha of land to operate a private hospital in the township. The Damansara Specialist Centre, operated by KPJ Healthcare Bhd, is the only other large private hospital in the area.

Sime Darby Healthcare, which has a presence in Indonesia, Vietnam, the UK and the US, is part of conglomerate Sime Darby Bhd which has businesses in over 20 countries ranging from motor, industrial, property and plantations.

Analysts said the new hospital is part of Sime Darby's long-term plan to grow its healthcare business which, together with general trading and other business, account for about 10 per cent of revenue compared with plantations (8.2 per cent), property (3.6 per cent), heavy equipment (33.3 per cent), motor vehicles (34.1 per cent) and energy and utilities (9.6 per cent).

rizalhakim

May 20th, 2009, 04:14 AM

Sime healthcare arm inks deal to promote medical tourism
Published: 2009/05/20

SIME Darby Healthcare Sdn Bhd, the healthcare arm of Sime Darby Bhd (4197), has teamed up with Medilink Network (PVT) Ltd of Bangladesh and Medilink (Beijing) TPA Services Co Ltd to promote medical travel from Bangladesh and China to Malaysia.

Sime Darby Healthcare chief executive officer Elaine Cheong Pek Yim said the partnership is part of the conglomerate's effort to garner a slice of Malaysia's medical tourism market worth RM540 million by next year.

"With these partnerships, Sime Darby Healthcare would be able to tap into Bangladesh and China's healthcare system and, at the same time, offer medical travellers from these two countries the benefits of our medical expertise," Cheong told reporters in Selangor yesterday.

Medilink (Beijing) is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Medilink-Global (Asia) Pte Ltd, while Medilink Network is its business associate in Bangladesh.
Medilink-Global is wholly owned by UK-based Medilink-Global UK Ltd.

The group acts as a third- party medical facilitator and provides services such as medical transcription, online healthcare records, global health insurance as well as healthcare tourism products for its over two million members.

Under their memorandum of understanding, Sime Darby Healthcare will promote, sell and market its services in Bangladesh and China.

Medilink, on the other hand, will be able to enhance is healthcare services to its clients and provide efficient claims management, standardisation of healthcare information and create greater convenience for patients.

nazrey

May 20th, 2009, 10:41 AM

SDH buka lagi hospital
19 Mei 2009

PETALING JAYA 19 Mei - Sime Darby Healthcare (SDH), anggota konglomerat Sime Darby Bhd. merancang membuka hospital kedua yang dilengkapkan dengan 300 katil di Desa ParkCity, Kepong dekat sini dalam usaha meluaskan operasinya.

Ketua Pegawai Eksekutifnya, Elaine Cheong berkata, perluasan operasi itu berikutan penjenamaan semula SDH daripada Subang Jaya Medical Centre.

Katanya, buat masa ini, pembukaan hospital yang dijangka siap pada awal 2012 masih dalam perancangan dan pembinaan dijadual bermula hujung tahun ini.

"Hospital yang dikenali sebagai Sime Darby Medical Centre Park City ini akan menawarkan perkhidmatan penjagaan kesihatan berkualiti tinggi, sekunder dan berteknologi maju," katanya ketika ditemui di sini hari ini.

SDH memiliki sejumlah pusat kesihatan termasuk Sime Darby Medical Centre Subang Jaya, pusat pesakit luar dan pembedahan di Petaling Jaya, Sime Darby Specialist Centre Megah dan Kolej Kejururawatan dan Sains Kesihatan Sime Darby.

Menurut Cheong, hospital baru itu dibina mengikut konsep reka bentuk, bina dan pajakan (BDL).

"Kami mereka bentuk hospital dan merancangnya berdasarkan syarat-syarat dan keperluan manakala pemajunya iaitu Perdana ParkCity melaksanakan pembinaan dan seterusnya kami mengendalikannya," katanya.

Beliau bagaimanapun enggan mendedahkan kos perbelanjaannya.

"Masih terlalu awal untuk menyatakan kos yang terbabit tetapi kami akan mengadakan majlis pecah tanah sebelum kerja-kerja pembinaan bermula," jelasnya.

Ditanya sama ada SDH bercadang membuka beberapa hospital lagi di seluruh negara, beliau berkata, pihaknya sentiasa mencari peluang bukan sahaja di negara sendiri tetapi juga luar negara.

Sehingga kini, SDH beroperasi di Amerika Syarikat, United Kingdom, Indonesia dan Vietnam.

rizalhakim

May 26th, 2009, 04:38 AM

RM200mil building to mark hospital’s centenary

KANGAR: The Tuanku Fauziah Hospital which celebrates its centenary this year will get a new eight-storey block costing RM200mil by the end of the year.

“The block will house wards, a delivery hall, operating hall, pharmacy and a royal ward,” Health Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai said at a dinner to mark the 66th birthday of the Raja of Perlis, Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin Putra Jama-lullail, in the state capital last night.

When completed, the block built on the present site would be the tallest hospital building, eclipsing the six-storey block built in 2004.

Liow said the hospital has undergone many changes since it was built as a dispensary in 1909 to become a modern hospital.

It is the only hospital in Perlis which has 30 specialists.

It is also used as a training centre for students taking medicine and related courses.

In his speech, Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin said he was hopeful that the hospital would be equipped with more facilities to keep it abreast with technological advancements in the medical arena. — Bernama

nazrey

June 2nd, 2009, 05:31 AM

Overall SMC cost is RM370m
Published on: Saturday, May 30, 2009

Kota Kinabalu: The Sabah Medical Centre (SMC) is to be purchased for RM280 million with an additional RM90 million set aside for refurbishment and renovation, said Health Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai.

He said the Federal Cabinet had actually approved the figure and that his visit to Sabah, Friday, was "to correct the amount" quoted by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak earlier this month.

Najib had said during his first official visit to Sabah as PM that the SMC is to be purchased for RM245m. The talk making the rounds earlier was that the sale price had been revised downwards from RM420m to RM380m but SMC denied there was truth in the speculation.

When the price was announced as RM245m, many felt that the price was reasonable going by the fact that the SMC had 200-plus beds.

"There was a little bit of mistake during the PM's visit. So, the PM has asked me to do the announcement," he said after visiting the private hospital in Luyang.

He said the purchase of the private hospital was timely and appropriate as a solution to the current crisis faced at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH).

According to him, they are now at the final stage of completing the Sales and Purchase Agreement (S&P).

He said part of the additional RM90m would be to renovate the top two floors of the SMC to create more beds and wards. The renovation would be completed about six months after signing of the S&P.

Liow said after the renovation had been done, the hospital, which has yet to be named, would have 455 beds to accommodate patients. "The additional beds are to ensure that the people of Sabah continue to get quality medical care."

At this juncture, Liow, who is also MCA Vice-President, said prior to the decanting or transfer of patients from the QEH to other hospitals, the QEH had 589 beds.

"But even after the closure of the Tower Block, the number of beds at QEH remains at 502 but were distributed amongst the various hospitals."

He said the QEH provided for 364 beds while Hospital Likas, 28 beds, Hospital Mesra, 30 beds and SMC, 80 beds. Liow, nevertheless, stressed that the medical and surgical services at QEH have not stopped since the decanting.

On other developments, he said that there would be more operating theatres made available at the SMC to reduce the backlog of surgical elective cases since the decanting of the unsafe Tower Block of the QEH.

There are three operating theatres at the SMC now and another two would be built so that more surgeries could be performed at one time.

On parking space at the SMC, Liow said the Government is looking into all aspects including parking space. He said they have to look into other services as well so as to ensure all the problems would be tackled and solved.