Bringing Hope to Aspiring Parents with Enhanced Preventative Care

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 74% of all global deaths are caused by non-communicable diseases (NCDs). Screening, detection and treatment are three key components needed to address this1. In attempts to curb NCDs and alleviate the strain on the global healthcare infrastructure, preventative care is gaining the limelight.

In embracing this paradigm, Malaysia is experiencing a burgeoning emphasis on proactive healthcare alongside curative care. This is subsequently reshaping the nation's healthcare narrative. Placing more importance on holistic wellness and disease prevention is anticipated to reduce the burden on the nation’s existing healthcare systems as well as facilitating improved health outcomes. Individuals are empowered to take charge of their wellbeing as a healthier, more resilient and more productive society is being nurtured.

At the forefront of this transformative journey is Island Hospital. In 2023 alone, the hospital welcomed more than 20,000 patients who underwent specialist-led health screenings with same-day results2.

Health travellers from China constitute a signi?cant segment of foreign patients who choose Malaysia as their healthcare destination, contributing a total revenue of RM91.1 million from January to November 20233. Island Hospital welcomed more than 1,800 Chinese health travellers during this time.

According to Lim Kooi Ling, the Chief of Staff of Island Hospital, “The same-day results raise the bar in the preventative health ecosystem, offering a unique value proposition for our patients. The swift turnaround time helps to alleviate anxiety, especially among health travellers who might be on a time constraint. Furthermore, health travellers from China who are yearning to expand their families can also easily schedule a fertility screening alongside their health screening procedures here.”

The removal of the one-child policy in China in 2021 has paved the way for an increasing number of aspiring parents from China to look into health screenings that incorporate fertility screenings. This helps them to begin their journey on a healthier note. With Island Hospital’s comprehensive screening ecosystem, they will subsequently be able to make informed decisions on their next step towards parenthood. Additional pull factors such as geographical proximity, relatively affordable rates, virtually no waiting time required and easy availability of Mandarin-speaking healthcare personnel serve to widen the appeal and accessibility of the hospital among the Chinese health travellers.

Island Hospital is no stranger to pioneering the healthcare landscape, and is currently developing Island Medical City, a ?rst-of-its-kind fully integrated medical hub that is conceived to ease patient experiences from end to end.

“As the preferred healthcare destination for an increasing number of health travellers, we envision that the establishment of this state-of-the-art healthcare hub will improve healthcare access while meeting the growing demands of both local and international patients,” added Lim.

With the healthcare travel industry in Malaysia in 2023 forecasted to record new heights with over 1 million healthcare travellers4 and Island Hospital’s foreign patient volume historically increasing by 10% each year5, this forward-looking initiative offers more possibilities for health travellers.

When completed, Island Medical City will feature a total of 1,000 beds, enhanced surgical capacities and facilities, and expanded centres of excellence, including in preventative health and fertility.

Supported by the upcoming Island Medical City, Island Hospital is con?dent of taking on the mantle as a premier healthcare provider for both local and international patients. As one of four ?nalists of Malaysia’s Flagship Medical Tourism Hospital programme, the hospital is also recognised as a key contributor to the country’s healthcare ecosystem and medical tourism industry, undergoing rigorous audit and assessment processes by international bodies such as Joint Commission International (JCI) and IQVIA, with its development being benchmarked against global standards of best practices.

"Through strategic investments in facilities, capabilities and technologies, we are committed to expanding and simplifying access to preventative healthcare services to meet the increasing demands of the global population.

“We therefore look forward to establishing strategic partnerships with like-minded businesses in China to further develop these areas. Together, we hope to help Chinese couples get a step closer to their dreams of expanding their families,” concluded Lim.

Read more about our commitment to your well-being: https://www.asianhhm.com/pressreleases/bringing-hope-to-aspiring-parents-with-enhanced-preventative-care

For more details on Island Hospital, please visit our website at www.islandhospital.com or our social feeds at https://www.facebook.com/islandhospitalpenang/.