TMC going Upstream



TMC Life Sciences Bhd, one of Malaysia’s fastest growing hospital operators, aims to grow further by extending its reach upstream within the health sciences industry.
The hospital operator with a RM1.5bil market capitalisation plans to extend its reach to provide education and extend its capabilities with the recent signing of two memorandum of understandings (MoUs) with foreign partners viz: UK-based Cell Therapy Ltd (CTL) and University College Dublin.
Its executive director and group chief executive officer Roy Quek siad that the group wanted to develop an integrated platform to provide healthcare services, medical education and research, as well as wellness and lifestyle programmes.
The partnership with CTL will explore and develop programmes to train medical professionals in the partner hospitals that include the affiliated Thompson Medical Centre in Singapore in regenerative medicine and stem cell technology whilst the MoU with University College Dublin aims for an establishment of a health sciences education and training platform in Malaysia and Singapore.
“The MoUs underscore our commitment to this vision – we are moving upstream into health sciences education and training, and medical research to meet the demand for high quality medical and healthcare professionals, as well as tap into new medical technologies to bring better care outcomes for our patients,” he said.  
“Specifically with CTL, we intend to commence our clinical collaboration immediately at our flagship hospital in Kota Damansara,” said Quek.
The company aims to introduce these new products and services after the successful conclusion of clinical trials and relevant regulatory approvals.
He hopes to start the expansion projects at its Kota Damansara and Johor Bahru hospitals soon.
“With our planned expansion at both Kota Damansara and Vantage Bay Healthcare City in Johor Bahru, we will have significant additional capacity to cater to the healthcare needs of more patients.
“Subject to the relevant regulatory approvals, we hope to be able to commence work on our two expansion projects by the end of this year,” he said.
The Vantage Bay Healthcare City is where the 500-bed Iskandariah Hospital (or Thompson Iskandar) will be located. It will house other health-related infrastructure such as pharmacies, training centres, healthcare retail, medical suites and food and beverages outlets.
TMC recently also opened its retail pharmacy at the Vantage Bay Healthcare City.
The expansion at the Iskandariah Hospital will be a boost in medical tourism for TMC as this development is located only about a two minutes drive from the Johor Bahru Customs, Immigration, and Quarantine Complex checkpoint.
“Vantage Bay Healthcare City will provide an excellent location to deliver medical services, educate and train a new generation of healthcare professionals, conduct research and development, and support multi-generational living and facilities,” said Quek.
The Iskandariah Hospital is expected to be completed in 2019. TMC is also expanding its Kota Damansara hospital in two phases that will be completed in three years.
With these expansion in the pipeline, TMC will have another 900 beds that will come onstream once all of its projects are successfully implemented.
In the most recent financial quarter ended Feb 29, TMC saw its net profit grown by 12.7% year-on-year while revenue grew to RM31.4 mil from RM26.4 mil previously.
Notably in the current year-to-date (YTD) period, the company said it saw its operating expenses rising due to keen competition in retaining and recruiting experienced healthcare professionals to manage its expanded capacity.
In the YTD period, TMC saw its net profit nearly doubled to RM9.51 mil from RM5.94 mil previously. Capital returns for investors have been high, with gains of 22.5% in the YTD period on its shares.
                                                                                                                                                                                           /theSTAR 25-07-2016
Disclaimer: Views or opinions expressed are solely those of the Author and should be used with discretion. The Author shall not be held liable for any acts or omissions arising from the use of the information. The user will be personally liable for any damages or other liability arising hereof.

Post a Comment

Alternative Health Scheme in Planning



The Health Ministry is planning a non-profit health financing scheme aimed at addressing weaknesses in private health insurance and out-of-pocket payments.
Minister of Health, Datuk Seri Dr S. Subra­maniam said that while the existing highly subsidised public health care service will continue, the alternative scheme was to address the financial catastrophe that Malay­sians faced when out-of-pocket payment and limited private insurance funds run out.
“This is a voluntary thing. Those who want can subscribe to it,” he told reporters after a Health Ministry/World Bank joint meeting yesterday on the role of collaboration and knowledge-sharing in strengthening health systems. 
Dr Subramaniam said the people would have a choice whether they wanted to opt for the private healthcare or the new scheme when it is introduced.
Presently, he said more than 50% of the population opted for private health services, with over 30% of their health expenses being out-of-pocket payments.
“If your pocket is deep enough, you will be able to meet the expectations but if not, you will end up in crisis and financial catastrophe,” he said.
For the new scheme, a company will be set up under the Ministry to manage it on a non-profit basis, he said. The minister said it would be completely run by the Government to make it be more efficient and better able to regulate the industry.
“Of course, the Government’s responsibility to provide healthcare to the public through the public healthcare system will continue. We will not change this,” he said.
/theSTAR 22-07-2-016
Disclaimer: Views or opinions expressed are solely those of the Author and should be used with discretion. The Author shall not be held liable for any acts or omissions arising from the use of the information. The user will be personally liable for any damages or other liability arising hereof.


Post a Comment

Malaysia: Population Census 2015



The total population in Malaysia is estimated to have reached 31.7 million, an increase of 0.5 million from 31.2 million last year.

The Department of Statistics in a statement said of the total, 16.4 million were male and 15.3 million were female with a sex ratio of 107 males per 100 females.

"Bumiputera ethnic recorded the highest percentage at 68.6%, followed by Chinese (23.4%), Indians (7%) and others (1%).

The percentage of non-citizens is recorded at 10.3% out of the total population.

According to the department, the distribution of the population according to age group did not show significant differences compared to last year.

The proportion of the population below the age of 14 decreased by 0.4% this year to 24.5% compared to 24.9% last year.

The population of those in the working age of 15 to 64, had increased by 0.2% in 2016 to 69.5% compared to last year and the population of those aged 65 and above also had increased by only 0.2% to 6% in the same period.

Population distribution by state showed that Selangor was the most populous state with 19.9% this year, followed by Sabah (12%) and Johor (11.5%), while the state with the smallest population were Putrajaya and Labuan with each recorded 0.3%

/Bernama 23-07-2016



Disclaimer: Views or opinions expressed are solely those of the Author and should be used with discretion. The Author shall not be held liable for any acts or omissions arising from the use of the information. The user will be personally liable for any damages or other liability arising hereof.

Post a Comment

HIV spread via heterosexual relationships



At present, 70% of AIDS and HIV positive cases are transmitted through heterosexual relationships, mainly from female sex workers to male clients, says the Health Ministry.

“The biggest cause of AIDS cases used to be intravenous drug users, but we have managed to control that through our harm reduction programmes. Now it is caused by males who visit sex workers, whether locally or abroad, and have unprotected sex. From there, they passed it on to their wives or partners. This figure is on the rise,” said Datuk Seri Dr S. Subramaniam.




He added that the Government was committed towards supporting a United Nations political declaration to see the end of the HIV and AIDS epidemic by 2030.

“We initially targeted to see the number of new HIV cases reduced from 21.7 cases per 100,000 population in 2000 to 11.0/100,000 in 2015. But we did better and reduced it to 10.9/100,000. We aim to ensure that we reach 0 cases even before 2030,” he said at a press conference at the Ministry here.

Dr Subramaniam said the Ministry had identified four high-risk groups as the “key population”, viz: (1) intravenous drug users, (2) female sex workers, (3) transgenders and (4) homosexual men.

“To help achieve our aim by 2030, we must increase the prevention programs among these key populations, increase access to treatment and provide screenings.

“We also have a good relationship with non-government organisations which we work closely with these key populations and they will help with our harm reduction programmes,” he said.

The minister said HIV screenings had also been expanded to 1Malaysia Clinics, besides hospitals and health clinics.

“On average, we conduct about 1.2 million HIV screenings annually,” he added.

/theSTAR 14-07-2016

Disclaimer: Views or opinions expressed are solely those of the Author and should be used with discretion. The Author shall not be held liable for any acts or omissions arising from the use of the information. The user will be personally liable for any damages or other liability arising hereof.

Post a Comment

Dengue cases drop 25% compared to 2015



The number of dengue cases fell by a quarter for the week of 3-9 July, 2016 compared with the week before.

A total of 1,512 dengue cases were reported, 505 cases or 25% cases fewer than the 2,017 cases the week before, said a statement posted on Health Director-General Datuk Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah’s website.

From January until July 9, there were 59,294 cases reported compared with 62,648 for the same period last year, a decrease of 5.4% (3,354 cases).

There were 134 deaths compared with 173 deaths for the same period last year (39 cases or 22.5% lower).




“The decreasing trend is closely linked to the festive season. The trend was also similar in 2014 and last year,” he said.

Dr Hisham added that during the Raya festive season, the use and disposal of food containers would increase and add to domestic trash. This would pose a concern over Aedes breeding and the increase in dengue cases. He urged local authorities to collect garbage regularly to prevent mosquito breeding.


In pointing out the La Nina phenomenon, which would bring about high rainfall in the next few months and could contribute to increasing dengue cases, Dr Hisham urged the public to cooperate by not throwing rubbish indiscriminately and to destroy all mosquito breeding sites.

Meanwhile, the Health Minister, Dr Subrama­niam said the ministry was still waiting for a complete report from the World Health Organisation on a dengue vaccine before it could be implemented in Malaysia.

“While we recognised that the vaccine does some good, we are also concerned about some potential problems and unanswered questions on the vaccine. Until we are clear on these areas, it will be difficult for us to make a decision on whether to use it nationwide."


“WHO has come up with an initial statement recommending the usage of the vaccine but with plenty of caution, so we will wait for the complete report which is expected next month,” he said.


/theSTAR 14-07-2016

Disclaimer: Views or opinions expressed are solely those of the Author and should be used with discretion. The Author shall not be held liable for any acts or omissions arising from the use of the information. The user will be personally liable for any damages or other liability arising hereof.

Post a Comment