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’ ve always been interested in Cambodia - the people , country and culture . So when an invitation came from Global Health APAC for an engagement visit and to attend its award ceremony recently , I knew this was an opportunity not to be missed .

True enough , it was a fruitful and eye-opening engagement with various stakeholders that Malaysia Healthcare Travel Council put together . During our session with the Ambassador of Malaysia in Cambodia , he gave an insightful overview . For starters , there are many Malaysian companies based in Cambodia and a significant number of �alaysians living and working in that beautiful country , especially in the capital of Phnom Penh .

In the healthcare scene , I believe that Cambodia is an untapped blue ocean that has great potential for robust partnerships with Malaysian healthcare . While developed markets such as Europe , the United States , and the Middle East have traditionally made up the bulk of medical tourists travelling to Southeast Asia , medical tourism is rapidly expanding to emerging economies in Asia .

Cambodia is a good example . In 2016 alone , 1.4 million of its citizens travelled abroad for their medical needs . This is a si�eable figure in a country of just �� . � million people at the time ( source : The Asean Post ). Today , the country ’ s population has risen to 17.2 million people with increasing medical needs .

An accredited and award-winning hospital like Subang Jaya Medical Centre ( SJMC ) is , therefore , well poised to serve the Cambodian market with our clinical

Phnom Penh

Bryan Lin

excellence , caring hospitality , and continuous medical innovation . And it ’ s only a two�hour flight from �hnom Penh to Kuala Lumpur !

Just two months ago , thanks to the support of the Malaysia Healthcare Travel Council and Global Health A�AC , SJ�C treated our first breast cancer patient from Cambodia who came to Malaysia for a second opinion . I personally met her and her husband during their time with us . She was pleasantly surprised with the speed of our diagnosis and consultation and was able to start her treatment within �� hours . SJ�C also houses both the first digital ��T�CT and TomoTherapy with Synchrony ( used for cancer treatment ) in Malaysia .

Since its establishment in ���� , our hospital has been committed to excellence and continuous innovation . For example , in 1999 , we were the pioneers of bone marrow transplantation in Malaysia for private healthcare . And today , we continue to lead the way with ��� bone marrow transplant cases performed thus far .

This could not have been possible without a highly skilled and passionate team of experts . Extending beyond cancer care , SJMC upholds high standards across various disciplines , such as orthopaedics , cardiology , and vascular and interventional radiology .

I ’ m therefore hopeful for more strategic partnerships with both Malaysian and Cambodian counterparts as we work to bridge the gaps in our healthcare needs . It is indeed exciting , and there are endless possibilities ahead ! I look forward to hosting more Cambodians who are considering travelling to Malaysia for their medical care . We are here to serve you best .

Bryan Lin is the Chief Executive Officer of Subang Jaya Medical Centre ( SJMC ) in Malaysia .

Since its establishment in 1985 , our hospital has been committed to excellence and continuous innovation . For example , in 1999 , we were the pioneers of bone marrow transplantation in Malaysia for private healthcare .

GlobalHealthAsiaPacific . com JULY 2022

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