BEST HOSPITALS

SUNWAY MEDICAL CENTRE

Mr Bryan Lin

Despite a year of frustration brought about by the global pandemic , Sunway Medical Centre did not allow lockdowns and travel restrictions to get in the way of its ambitious plans to expand its facilities at home and overseas for a bigger share of Malaysia ’ s medical tourism market .

This year ’ s winner of the Medical Tourism Hospital of the Year Award continued receiving and treating patients from overseas even though borders were largely closed across the region .

“ It ’ s been an unprecedented year of challenges for medical tourism , and I think the whole private healthcare industry has been impacted through limited medical tourism opportunities . Despite these challenges , Sunway has done very well ,” chief executive Bryan Lin told Global Health Asia- Pacific .

“ We do see that , though there ’ s been a reduction in medical tourism , there are still medical tourists that have even been chartering planes to fly here for specific treatments , including for cancer ,” he noted .

Thanks to efforts by the Malaysia Healthcare Travel Council ( MHTC ), the government-run agency promoting Malaysia ’ s medical tourism centres , and the Immigration Department , clearance has been given to patients in some cases for treatment in Malaysia . “ From this point of view , we ’ re happy that we ’ ve been receiving some medical tourists at Sunway Medical Centre for treatment during this time ,” Lin added .

Since virtual care has become increasingly important during the COVID-19 era , Sunway began offering telemedicine and teleconsultations for both its local and international patients . “ Telemedicine has provided an enabling tool for healthcare providers like us to maintain patient continuity and management while limiting potential exposure to the COVID-19 virus , especially for immunocompromised , elderly , and young patients ,” he explained .

Sunway Medical Centre , part of a Malaysian conglomerate involved in property development , has been an enduring presence in health tourism through its wide-ranging facilities and broad regional reach .

It had planned this year to open up more representative offices across the Asia-Pacific to broaden access to its services and drive more medical tourists to Malaysia , but that goal was derailed by the pandemic . Its plans to expand its campus in Kuala Lumpur , however , continued amid lockdowns in the city .

“ This pandemic has been disruptive , but work must go on . We have had the benefit of good support from our board and our shareholders who see the importance of healthcare as a driver for the company , so the development has been ongoing ,” said Lin .

Once construction on three new towers is complete , an additional 180 consultation rooms and some 250 beds will be added to existing facilities .

“ We ’ re currently sitting on 616 beds licensed by the Ministry of Health . Going forward , the new towers will be ready towards the end of 2021 , and by the second quarter of the next year , the buildings under construction will be ready for the public . We ’ ll also have a dedicated paediatric emergency department , as well as a women ’ s and children ’ s hospital . We ’ re excited about the development in this flagship hospital ,” the chief executive added .

While its expansion plans proceed , Sunway will be making its name seen and message heard across the region in preparation for the reopening of national borders and the return of international patients seeking treatment in Kuala Lumpur .

“ We ’ re continuing to use different ways to make Sunway known through print and social media and the MHTC . Being an elite member with MHTC puts us at the forefront of engaging with them and regional agencies to shout out our services ,” said Lin .

“ We ’ re making it known to the world that we ’ re here to serve patients and to reassure them that they ’ ll be given the best care available when they come to Malaysia for treatment at Sunway .”

26 DECEMBER 2020 GlobalHealthAsiaPacific . com