HOSPITALS & MEDICAL INSTITUTIONS | General Thread

[nazrey]

Originally Posted by nazrey

Nilai Cancer Institute
Negeri Sembilan

First in Southeast Asia: Trilogy System is fully operational
Source: http://www.nci.com.my/index.asp



NCI Cancer Hospital (formerly known as Nilai Cancer Institute) is the pioneer private specialist center in Malaysia. We focus equally on two core activities: cancer treatment and clinical research.

Our aim is to provide high quality medical care with a personal touch. NCICH presents a warm, personal and caring environment as delivered by friendly staff and dedicated professionals. We understand the needs of our patients, and their family members such that the patient care experience is the result of many individuals working together to ensure the best possible care management. A patient is attended by a team of medical professeionals, each contributing vital experience and expertise. At the same time, our administrative staff ensures that our patient-friendly processes, serivecs and facilities run smoothly.

NCICH is recognised internationally as a centre for conducting randomised clinical trials by various multinational pharmaceutical companies.NCICH's clinical research complies with the international Good Clinical Practice (GCP) guidelines to ensure rights and safety of patients are protected, and the data is accurate and verifiable. In addition to that, NCICH was awarded the MS ISO 9001:2000 in 2002. Recently, NCICH was successfully recertified for an additional 3 years.



Pictured above from L to R: NCI Chairman Datuk Dr Kim Tan; NCI Head of
Oncology & Radiation Therapy, Head of Clinical Research, Dr G Selvaratnam;
NCI Medical Director Dato' Dr J.C. Mehta

“The NCI Cancer Hospital is the only dedicated cancer centre in the country. It has the distinction of being the first facility in Southeast Asia to introduce the Trilogy System to cater to the needs of patients requiring high-end precision radiotherapy. We have a team of highly experienced doctors and staff fully committed to serving the needs of our patients. Although our main thrust is in the treatment of cancer, we are actively involved in clinical trials with international organisations.

[adzmierzboy]

foto by temikaei in http://www.panoramio.com/photo/
Hospital Pantai Utara Sg Petani


Hospital Pakar Metro Sg Petani


Hospital Sultan Abd Halim Amanjaya Sg Petani

[adzmierzboy]

pic from http://medicine.uitm.edu.my/

An eleven acre piece of land, near the present Hospital Selayang has been identified for the building of an academic clinical block and the students' residence. Below is the artist impression of the complex.

[nazrey]

George Kent may build hospitals overseas
Published: 2009/07/14
> http://www.georgekent.net/

GEORGE Kent (Malaysia) Bhd, an engineering firm with expertise in water infrastructure work, may consider venturing abroad as a turnkey contractor to build hospitals.

Chairman Tan Sri Tan Kay Hock said his company has been awarded RM97.75 million turnkey contract to build a 106-bed facility at the Kuala Lipis Hospital in February.

The contract is slated for completion by August 25, 2011, he said.

"If we can develop our expertise, upgrade our capabilities and do a good job, we may even consider venturing overseas as a turnkey contractor for hospitals," he told reporters after the company's AGM today.

Tan said the company would be able to gain experience and develop its capabilities as a civil and structural engineering contractor - Bernama

[nazrey]

Musa Wants Construction Of Private Hospital To Proceed Immediately
July 15, 2009 19:21 PM

KOTA KINABALU, July 15 (Bernama) -- Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman has given a directive for the private hospital at Wisma Khidmat, near here, to be set up as soon as possible.

He said the RM100 million hospital, initiated by Sabah Credit Corporation (SCC), must be constructed immediately to alleviate the suffering of the people due to the acute shortage of medical facilities at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH).

The SCC is a financial institution fully owned by the Sabah government with the primary objective of contributing to Sabah's socio-economic development.

Musa, who is also Finance Minister, said he requested a briefing from Health Department officers on the status of the upgrading of QEH and the approved takeover of the Sabah Medical Centre.

"I am sad that there is still delay in implementing measures to overcome the lack of medical facilities, namely a well-equipped general hospital in Kota Kinabalu.

"In light of the continuing delay, I want the construction of the private hospital to proceed immediately and be completed within a year," he told reporters after chairing a state cabinet meeting Wednesday.

"Although it is a private hospital, profit is not its priority.

"The lives and health of the people must come first. We realise the suffering of patients due to the congestion at QEH, and their relatives and the doctors are affected too," he said, adding that the private hospital could accommodate at least 150 beds and equipped with an operating theatre.

"We have to be proactive in this matter. The state government will do its part to assist the Health Ministry to fill the gap until it can provide adequate medical facilities to the people of Sabah," he added.

In this regard, Musa called on all the relevant authorities to cooperate in expediting the completion of the hospital for the benefit of all.

-- BERNAMA

[rizalhakim]

Originally Posted by adzmierzboy

pic from http://medicine.uitm.edu.my/

An eleven acre piece of land, near the present Hospital Selayang has been identified for the building of an academic clinical block and the students' residence. Below is the artist impression of the complex.

dats cool!!

[rizalhakim]

Columbia Asia To Set Up 15 New Hospitals In India


NEW DELHI, July 15 (Bernama) -- Malaysia-based Columbia Asia, a consortium of healthcare providers, is chalking out an ambitious expansion strategy for its Indian market, with 15 new multi-specialty hospitals in the pipeline.

Columbia had announced that it was ready to invest nearly US$100 million (RM350 million) over the next three years to create over 2,000 beds from the current 570 beds in its five hospitals that it owns in India.

"Since we prefer to go alone and invest through the 100 percent FDI (foreign direct investment) route, the slowdown has not impacted our India expansion plans.

"Our parent company in Kuala Lumpur is financially strong. In fact, funds for the 15 new hospitals are already in place. We are just finalising the real estate deals," Columbia Asia (India) chief executive officer T. Ghosh told the Economic Times.

At present, the consortium operates 14 healthcare facilities across Asia and by end of 2011 it aims to set up 17 new hospitals in the region.

In India it owns five hospitals - two in Bangalore, one in Delhi, Kolkata and Mysore.

In Malaysia, it operates five hospitals while another six are being planned nationwide.

Columbia plans to set up hospitals in India on the "community hospital model" concept, which includes primary and secondary medical services.

"We are also planning to set up smaller 30-bed hospitals in four cities and the first one is coming up in Karnataka.

"Once we have developed the community hospital network, the next step will be to set up 200-bed referral hospitals which will have expertise to treat rare and difficult cases," Ghosh told the newspaper in an interview in Kolkata.

-- BERNAMA

[rizalhakim]

[nazrey]

That's acary! would be look like human's intestine!!!

[nazrey]

SMC to build RM180m hosp?
Published on: Friday, July 17, 2009

Kota Kinabalu: Sabah Medical Centre Sdn Bhd (SMC) is believed to be planning to acquire 4.163 acres off Jalan Damai, Luyang, costing RM10 million per acre.

The purpose is to build a RM180 million replacement hospital in the wake of the Government's purchase of the existing SMC at a cost of about RM275 million.

A resolution to this effect under the heading "Acquisition of Town Lease 017553221 comprising 4.163 acres of land" on the agenda is likely to be tabled for consideration and approval at the company's Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM) on July 24.

It is the second of five proposed resolutions which are expected to be deliberated upon and approved at the EGM, of which a notice dated July 10 has been given to all shareholders.

It reads as follows :

"To resolve that the approval is granted under Section 132C of the Companies Act, 1965 to acquire the parcel of land held under Town Lease 017553221 comprising 4.163 acres more or less situated off Jalan Damai, Luyang, Kota Kinabalu at a purchase price of RM10,000,000.00 per acre as the contingent to construct a replacement private medical centre to continue providing medical care service upon the materialisation of the sale of SMC building to Ministry of Health (MOH), on such terms and conditions as the directors of SMC shall deem fit."

This will be preceded by Resolution 1 which is for the disposal by SMC of its ownership in the land held under Town Lease 017553212 together with the hospital building and an inventory of plants and equipment to the MOH for a sum of not less than RM275 million.

According to the notice, the third item on the agenda is to resolve that the Board of Directors be empowered and authorised on behalf of SMC to cause to design, build, equip and operate a new hospital building of 250 bedded at a budget of not more than RM180 million on Town Lease 017553221.

Daily Express contacted Chairman of Sabah Medical Centre Sdn Bhd, Dr Tseu Fui Loong, who confirmed the convening of the EGM.

He, however, said he was not aware that a copy of the notice had been circulated to the media and abruptly ended the conversation.

Meanwhile, the Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) again said that the proposal to convert Wisma Khidmat here into a private hospital is a bad idea due to many reasons, particularly its safety and suitability.

Its Information Chief, Chong Pit Fah, said the proposed conversion site was bad as the building and location were not suitable for a medical set-up.

"Is this private hospital upon completion going to provide free medical treatment to the people of Sabah because the Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman had said that it would be given on loan to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH) while waiting for the other planned government hospital to be completed," he said in a statement to Bernama.

Chong said the Wisma Khidmat building, which was built more than 25 years ago, was also not suitable for a medical set-up because it was then built for commercial purposes.

He said there was no guarantee that the building was safe for occupancy after being abandoned for several years as many parts of the building might be damaged. He said problems like congestion might occur in the area because there was limited space for parking and this could spill over to the surrounding area.

"What the Chief Minister should do is to use of his good office to press the Federal Government to speed up the construction of the twin towers of the QEH after its main block was declared unsafe late last year," he said.

He added that the city had already been deprived of a general hospital facility for 254 days after the QEH debacle.

The private hospital costing over RM100 million would have 150 beds and medical facilities such as an operating theatre. It will also be owned by the Sabah Credit Corporation (SCC), the building owner.

[nazrey]

121 Hospitals To Be Installed With Digital Filing System
July 20, 2009 19:43 PM

KLANG, July 20 (Bernama) -- A total of 121 of 135 government hospitals will be installed with digital filing system to speed up the retrieval of patient records, Health Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai said.

"I notice that there are still many hospitals which keep their records manually and spent about 15 minutes to look for them. The time taken is too long.

"If we use digital filing, we can retrieve the information accurately and instantly," he told a news conference after visiting the Tengku Ampuan Rahimah Hospital (HTAR) here Monday.

Liow said a detailed planning should be carried out before installing the system due to its high cost.

Old hospitals like the Kuala Lumpur Hospital and HTAR would be installed with the system first if the government decided to proceed with it, he added.

He said that until now, only 14 hospitals were installed with the system including Serdang, Selayang, Putrajaya, Ampang and Sungai Buloh hospitals.

Asked on the time frame for the installation, Liow said, it was an ongoing process.

On the cost to install the system, he said, it had yet to be ascertained.

"It takes time to migrate from a manual system to a digital system. In HTAR alone, 14 cabins are being used for storing medical records... this is a huge amount of records," he said.

-- BERNAMA

[nazrey]

KPJ Healthcare akan miliki 23 hospital menjelang 2012
20/07/2009 5:10pm

KUANTAN 20 Julai _ KPJ Healthcare Berhad (KPJ Healthcare) akan mempunyai 23 rangkaian hospital pakar apabila empat lagi pusat perubatannya yang sedang dalam pembinaan siap sepenuhnya menjelang 2012.

Pengerusi KPJ Healthcare, Tan Sri Muhammad Ali Hashim berkata, empat hospital tersebut ialah masing-masing sebuah di Kuala Lumpur, Klang, Pulau Pinang dan Kuantan.

" Pada masa ini, kita mempunyai 19 rangkaian hospital di seluruh negara yang memberi pelbagai perkhidmatan pakar kepada rakyat,'' katanya. - Utusan

[rizalhakim]

Pasdec, Johor firm in hospital venture
Published: 2009/07/21



PASDEC Holdings Bhd has entered into an agreement with Kumpulan Perubatan (Johor) Sdn Bhd (KPJSB) to form a joint-venture company to develop and own a private hospital in Kuantan.

Pasdec will hold 30 per cent equity in the company, while the rest will be held by KPJSB.

[rizalhakim]

Originally Posted by rizalhakim

Pasdec, Johor firm in hospital venture
Published: 2009/07/21



PASDEC Holdings Bhd has entered into an agreement with Kumpulan Perubatan (Johor) Sdn Bhd (KPJSB) to form a joint-venture company to develop and own a private hospital in Kuantan.

Pasdec will hold 30 per cent equity in the company, while the rest will be held by KPJSB.

KPJ to build RM100m hospital in Kuantan
2009/07/21


KUANTAN: KPJ Healthcare is set to tap the health tourism in the east coast region by building a RM100 million specialist hospital in Tanjung Lumpur here.

The new hospital will be KPJ's 23rd, and the second in Pahang after Kuantan Specialist Hospital, which serves patients from as far as Kelantan and Mersing in Johor.

Yesterday, the company inked a joint-venture agreement with the state government's investment arm, Pasdec Corporation, for the construction of the building which will then be leased back to KPJ.

Its president, Tan Sri Mu-hammad Ali Hashim, said the growth and development of Kuantan and the east coast region had increased the demand for quality healthcare services.

"Malaysians are earning more and we help fill their demand for private healthcare. The new hospital is due to be operational in 2011 with 250 beds," he said yesterday.



He said this was also the third project built under a joint-venture agreement with state governments, after Ke-dah and Kelantan.


"We expect to open two new hospitals in Kuala Lumpur and Penang."

Pasdec chief executive officer Mohd Khairuddin Abdul Manan said it planned to develop the land adjacent to the proposed hospital into a mini commercial development called Kuantan Piazzaz.

Khairuddin said the new hospital would boost the value of the neighbouring development of Bandar Putra township slated for completion in 2017.

[rizalhakim]

KPJ Healthcare miliki 23 hospital

Oleh YUSRI SAHAT
bisnes@utusan.com.my







KUANTAN 20 Julai - KPJ Healthcare Bhd. (KPJ Healthcare) akan mempunyai serangkaian 23 buah hospital pakar apabila tiga lagi pusat perubatannya yang sedang dalam pembinaan siap sepenuhnya menjelang 2012.

Pengerusi KPJ Healthcare, Tan Sri Muhammad Ali Hashim berkata, tiga hospital tersebut, masing-masing terletak di Klang, Selangor, Pulau Pinang dan Kuantan di Pahang.

''Pada masa ini, kita mempunyai serangkaian 19 buah hospital di seluruh negara yang memberi pelbagai perkhidmatan pakar kepada rakyat," katanya.

Beliau berkata demikian selepas majlis menandatangani memorandum persefahaman (MoU) antara KPJ Healthcare dengan Pasdec Corporations Sdn. Bhd. (Pasdec) di Kompleks Dagangan Mahkota, Bandar Indera Mahkota di sini hari ini.

KPJ Healthcare diwakili Pengurus Besar Kumpulan (Operasi Hospital), Amiruddin Abdul Satar dan Pengurus Besar Kumpulan, Mohd. Sahir Rahmat manakala Pasdec diwakili Pengarah, Datuk Lias Mohd. Noor dan Ketua Pegawai Eksekutif, Mohd. Khairuddin Abdul Manan.

Majlis itu disaksikan oleh Menteri Besar Pahang, Datuk Seri Adnan Yaakob.

MoU itu diadakan sempena seminar Pembangunan Industri Halal Nasional peringkat negeri di Kompleks Dagangan Mahkota itu yang dirasmikan oleh Adnan.

Muhammad Ali berkata, KPJ Healthcare melabur sebanyak RM300 juta untuk membina setiap hospital yang dilengkapi pelbagai kemudahan terkini kepada pesakit.

Beliau menjelaskan, pembinaan hospital-hospital itu dibuat berdasarkan permintaan yang semakin tinggi di kalangan rakyat selain mengurangkan kos rawatan ke luar negara.

''Kita memahami keperluan rakyat dan hospital kerajaan sedia ada juga tidak mampu menampung permintaan yang semakin bertambah," katanya.

Sementara itu, kata beliau, pihaknya juga sedang membina sebuah lagi hospital baru juga dikenali Hospital Tawakal bersebelahan Hospital Tawakal yang kini beroperasi di Kuala Lumpur.

Mengulas pembinaan hospital pakar bernilai RM100 juta di Kuantan, kata Muhammad Ali, pusat perubatan tersebut akan dibina di tapak seluas 1.2 hektar di Tanjung Lumpur.

Beliau berkata, hospital yang mempunyai 180 katil itu turut dilengkapi unit rawatan rapi (ICU), bilik bedah, farmasi, makmal, unit hemodialisis, perkhidmatan pesakit luar dan kecemasan.

Dengan pembinaan itu, beliau berkata, Kuantan bakal memiliki dua hospital pakar iaitu Hospital Pakar Kuantan (KSH) yang kini turut memberi perkhidmatan kepada pesakit dari Kota Bharu, Kelantan dan Mersing, Johor.

[nazrey]

Gleneagle Hospital Xtension
Taken from http://www.pdcstudio.com/



Pantai Hospital Xtension
Taken from http://www.pdcstudio.com/

[nazrey]

Pantai Hospital Xtension

[rizalhakim]

IJN's new wing takes off

2009/07/22
Annie Freeda Cruez


Construction of the new wing (left) started in 2005.

KUALA LUMPUR: After three-and-a-half years, the National Heart Institute (IJN) has is ready to opened its new wing.



The reception counter for patient registration.



There are 24 outpatient clinics and an international patient centre in the six-storey building, which was opened by Health Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai recently

Liow, who was impressed by the resplendent lobby, said the serene atmosphere will be soothing balm to patients who come in with pain, fear and anxiety.

The building’s modern unique facade gives visitors a good idea of what to expect inside.


The interior design art is contemporary with a the futuristic giant glass sculpture as its centre piece. Look closely and you will seeone will that that it resembles the shape of a heart.

The 186 sq m wide sculpture, which spreads across the wall of the lobby, is called “The Tree of Life”.

Water splashes up in the shape of a tree with the branches that that end with the blooming flowers.

Created by local artist Raja Azhar, it is a symbol of hope for the patients of IJN.

Raja Azhar says: “IJN gives patients the hope to keep going. Life is beautiful. The birds on the ceiling flying represent freedom- freedom from pain and sickness, and the joy of being able to continue with their lives,” Raja Azhar said.

The birds hanging on the ceiling are arranged in also form an “S” formation which stands for “survival”.

The sculpture took four months to complete and will soon be listed in the Malaysia Book of Records as the biggest fused and textural hot coloured glass sculptureglass sculpture in the country.
The outpatient clinics are each have their own registration, pharmacy and payment counters.

The comfortable waiting lounge is equipped with prayer rooms as well as a play area, television and dedicated space for breastfeeding and ample toilets for both men and women.

IJN chief executive officer Datuk Mohd Radzif Mohd Yunus said the new wing has a 112-bed general ward for beds including paediatric, wards for cardiology and cardiothoracic patients.

It will also has aOther facilities include a 12-bed intensive care unit (ICU) beds for post-surgical cases, eight coronary care unit (CCU) beds, six high-dependency unit beds and two state-of-the art operating theatres.
and equipment, There are two invasive cardiovascular laboratories, for interventional invasive cardiology procedures, 19 daycare ward beds, 35 clinic rooms, four dialysis beds and a hybrid cath operating theatre.

This is in addition to the already existing 179-bed general ward, beds including paediatric wards for cardiology and cardiothoracic cases, 18 ICU beds, for post surgical cases, 12 CCU beds, 10 Paediatric ICU beds, 5 high-dependency unit beds, 5 ICU medical beds, 24-hour emergency department with six observation beds, five operating theatres, four invasive cardiothoracic laboratories for interventional invasive cardiology procedures, 11 day care ward beds and 24 clinic rooms.

There is also a separate wing also has separate entrance and lift for royalty and other dignitaries.

The wards are divided into single, double and There are single, double and four-bed rooms and all the The double bedded room are convertible into four-bedded rooms too. These rooms have scenic views of the courtyards, gardens or Petronas Twin Towers.

Mural paintings on the hospital walls brighten up the environment, making patients feel as if they are in a hotel instead of a hospital, a so as to help them recover fast and return home.

There is also a with the extension block of six levels including an annexe multi-storey car park.

The annexe building, which was completed in 2007, provides an additional 700 parking bays.

The general wards, rehabilitation ward and the high-dependency unit at the new wing will start operating in stages fromstarting next month. followed by all the other facilities.

From 2000 to December last year, more than 1.5 million patients were treated at IJNtheir premise.

A total of 41,700 heart surgeries and 95,500 interventional procedures were performed. There were had 155,900 admissions and a 1,503,000 outpatient visits.

Mohd Radzif attributed the successful completion of the new wing to the support of the Health Ministry. , director-general of health, ministry’s secretary-general, officers, doctors, nurses, allied health team and other staff who jointly gave their support and inputs.

An UPM lecturer Dr Zahid Emby, who has been a heart patient since 1987 said: “It all started in a wooden hut and today its just awe inspiring to see how the heart centre has grown.”

[nazrey]

Originally Posted by rizalhakim

IJN to operate from new wing in July
Saturday June 6, 2009

KUALA LUMPUR: From July 1, the National Heart Institute (IJN) will operate from its new wing while its existing wing undergoes renovation.

Operations at the new wing will begin with the 24 outpatient clinics now in the existing wing, but IJN hopes to add general wards, a rehabilitation ward and a high dependency unit (renal) in the latter part of July. Once all expansion works are complete, IJN will have 438 beds.

“Five more cardio-thoracic centres are in the pipeline,” said Health Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai, who was on a working visit to the IJN yesterday.

The institute would continue to open its doors to patients from all levels of society, he said.

IJN had to increase its capacity considering the large number of patients it dealt with and as the Government continued to improving cardiology services in the country, he added.

From http://www.ijn.com.my/



EXPANSION PLAN
IJN AIMS TO SOAR HIGHER WITH THE NEW WING

IJN was set up to provide specialized evaluation and treatment of all cardiac cases referred from all over the country. Today, IJN is reckoned to be among the best medical centres for cardiovascular and thoracic care in Malaysia and the region.

Over the last fifteen years of establishment, IJN has recorded more than 1.3 million outpatient and 132,000 inpatient attendances. Has performed more than 600,000 interventional cardiology procedures and over 35,000 heart surgeries. The increase in patients has caused congestion in bedding and bottle-neck effects in facilities, hence there is a need for expansion to serve our continuously growing patients attendances and to enhance our role as the cardiovascular and thoracic centre of international standards.

The present facilities are being expanded, configured and programmed to suit the current requirements and for immediate future needs.

CONSTRUCTION OF NEW WING

IJN's New Wing, developed on a 'design and built' concept encompasses and extension block of six levels including car park/annexe building. The overall project includes equipping, commissioning and maintenance of the new facilities as well as renovation and refurbishment works. The built-up area is 78,401sf whilst the land area is 20,214sf.

Upon completion, the new wing would portray a modern contemporary building with patient-friendly facilities, top-grade services. Public areas such as the main entrance/lobby, public and VIP lift lobbies to all floors, commercial lots, executive lounge, admission and registration centre will be graced with granite flooring and refined wall finishes.

[rizalhakim]

Hospitals looking at three countries
2009/07/23


KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysian hospitals are wooing Vietnamese and Cambodians in the promotion of their world-class and value-for-money medical services.

A long-time favourite with Indonesians, Singaporeans and people in the Middle East, the hospitals are also trying to attract Bangladeshis.

Association of Private Hospitals of Malaysia (APHM) president Datuk Dr Jacob Thomas said the three countries were targeted as they had a fast growing middle-class population which was health conscious.

Moreover, Vietnam and Cambodia were only about 90 minutes away by flight, he added.

He said Malaysia was looking at capturing at least 10 per cent of the medical tourists from the three countries.



Dr Jacob said Vietnam had a population of 85 million, and about 300,000 Vietnamese went overseas for medical treatment last year.



"If we can attract 10 per cent of these tourists, then we are on the right track."

He said a delegation went to Vietnam and Cambodia last year and last April to promote Malaysia's private hospitals and their facilities.

"Many of them were unaware that our hospital facilities are at par with Singapore, but our treatments are 40 to 60 per cent cheaper."

He said the visit resulted in some hospitals setting up representative offices in Vietnam and Cambodia to promote their services.

Dr Jacob is bullish about the initiative and expects to see medical tourists from Vietnam and Cambodia within two years.

On Bangladesh, Dr Jacob said a delegation would be sent there next month.

Pantai Hospital senior manager for group marketing (international) Anwar Anis said Vietnamese and Cambodians usually sought treatment in Thailand but the political uncertainties there had forced them to look elsewhere.

He said Pantai had already set up an office in Vietnam's Ho Chi Minh City and was already getting enquiries.

Asked why Malaysia was targetting only medical tourists from the Asian region, Dr Jacob said this was due to the great potential of the region whose surface Malaysia had barely scratched.

Also, it was more expensive to penetrate the Western market where private hospitals had to spend up to five times more on advertising and promotions, he added.

"Besides that, Westerners prefer US-friendly countries such as Singapore and Thailand."