Ladies & gentlemen
After the inspiring presentations on Cross Border Healthcare by Dato’ Dr Chan Kok Ewe, Chairman of the Penang Health Association and How Singapore can contribute to Healthcare in Penang by Prof Soo Khee Chee, Director of the National Cancer Centre, Singapore, I am further encouraged to share with you my vision for healthcare in Penang.
Our vision of Penang as the leading medical hub in Malaysian is underpinned by quality healthcare, managed costs affordable for the lower as well as high-end segments of the market and a pro-active government administration intent on making the stay of not just the patients as comfortable as possible under the cirmsumstances but also relaxing for their family members. We intend to combine a all in one experience of getting our ailment treated and leaving Penang treated, rested, cured and cheerful.
The resort nature of Penang, our wonderful UNESCO World Heritage City, tantalizing old world charms and lifestyle and our world famous food is an unbeatable combination for any holidaygoers. After all Yahoo Travel listed Penang as one of the top 10 islands you must explore before you die and Penang asam laksa has been listed by CNN as the No. 7 best food in the world.
Having said that, Penang is not competing with Singapore as the lack of direct international flights make our appeal regional, especially the market close to Thailand and Northern Sumatera. In a way Penang complements Singapore in that our direct links allows any patient to also consider Singapore for further treatment.
Penang’s dominant role in the medical tourism industry in Malaysia is backed up by figures. Out of Malaysia’s total medical tourism receipts in 2009 of RM288 million, Penang contributed RM 164 million or 57%. In 2010 out of Malaysia’s total medical tourism receipts in 2010 of RM 336 million, Penang contributed RM 218 million or 66%.
The Hotel Resort Insider in 2010, named Malaysia as one of the top five medical tourism destinations in the world. The healthcare services provided in Malaysia, which cover a full and extended range of secondary and tertiary medical specialities are of equal standards but comparatively cheaper than in the U.S., Europe and other developed nations.
Penang is more than one-and-a-half times the size of Singapore, with a population of 1.6 million or 30% of Singapore’s population. Penang has more than ten private hospitals but seven speciality hospitals stand out. These seven hospitals have formed a consortium among themselves to jointly promote medical tourism in Penang.
Calling themselves the Penang Health Association, these hospitals portray a distinct uniqueness of commonality in purpose. Although they are separate business entities they are compatriots in promoting Penang as the destination of choice for medical tourism.
The people in Penang are known for their prudence with resources, be it financial or people. The Penang Health Association has adopted these qualities and has been promoting Penang as a medical hub rather than promoting their individual hospital to potential patients from within the ASEAN region. They have been participating in road shows and exhibitions outside Malaysia as Penang Health Association as an affordable and quality healthcare destination.
Taking cognizance of the efforts of these players in healthcare services in Penang, it is my aspiration to develop and promote Penang as the Medical City for the Region. As a Medical City, not only medical or healthcare services are provided but it also entails an extensive dimension of services, beginning from:
-Arrival at Penang International Airport or any other entry point;
-Airport transfer to / from the hospital for the patient and lodging for the patient’s family
-Treatment in the hospital
-Transportation for patient’s family to daily hospital visits
-Tour packages for patient’s family
-Recuperation or convalescence either in the hospital or at a local lodging
-Post treatment services
In order to provide a complete and interdependence range of services, a coopetition (cooperative competition) approach is adopted to involve all related entities of the services industry. This means that the various sectors of the services industry such as
-operators of tour & travel trade
-hospitals
-operators of hotels, service apartments and other lodgings
-transport operators
-restaurants and food caterers
-other related services providers have to pool their resources to make the Medical City concept a reality.
I am confident that the players in the services industry will response positively to the initiative of developing and promoting Penang as the Medical City for the reason that the success of the Medical City will translate to profitability for them.
As a Medical City, patients from within ASEAN and further afield will be able to come to Penang to seek a holistic and cost-effective healthcare. The holistic healthcare approach fosters a cooperative relationship among all those who are involved, thus leading towards the best possible attainment of the physical, mental, emotional, social as well as spiritual aspects of health. The holistic approach is consistent with the rising demand for a wider extent of healthcare, which include not only curing illnesses but also encompasses education and responsibility for personal efforts towards achieving balance and well being.
We certainly welcome Singapore’s assistance in contributing to the growth of the healthcare sector in Penang and I look forward to the day that healthcare services in Penang will be sought after by patients outside ASEAN.
Speech by Right Honorable Lim Guan Eng, Chief Minister of Penang at “Penang Dialogue – Penang’s Healthcare Sector: Strategies, Synergies & Opportunities” August 11, 2011 @ Tanglin Club, Singapore
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槟州首席部长林冠英于2011年8月11日在新加坡Tanglin 俱乐部的“ 槟州医疗领域： 策略、合成及机会”的对话会上发表谈话，重点如下：
槟州政府的愿景就是打造马来西亚首屈一指的医疗保健中心，其前提必须是拥有高素质的医疗服务、市场上低收入及高收入群体都可负担的价格以及主动积极的政府机关，不只让病患能在舒适的情况下治病，也让他们的家属可以放心。我们希望病患能得到“全合一”的医治，在获得治疗、休息足够、痊愈、开心的情况下离开槟城。
槟城拥有渡假胜地的特质，乔治市是联合国科教文组织认可的世界文化遗产，老城市的魅力及生活方式、著名美食都是让游客难怀的组合。Yahoo Travel也将槟城列为十大临死前必到之处，而槟城亚参叻沙也在美国有线电视新闻网（CNN）世界美食排行榜是名列第七。
槟城并非要与新加坡竞争，毕竟我们缺少直接国际航班，因此，我们更注重区域性市场，特别是泰国及北苏门答腊一带。槟城 – 新加坡的直飞航班也方便那些要前往新加坡接受进一步治疗的病人，这方面，槟城与新加坡可说是相辅相成。
槟城的医保旅游业在大马一直是领先的。2009年马来西亚在这个领域的2亿8800万令吉收入中，其中57%或1亿6400万令吉来自槟城。2010年，马来西亚在这个领域的收入为3亿3600万令吉，其中66%或2亿1800万令吉来自槟城。
2010年The Hotel Resort Insider 把马来西亚列为世界五大医保旅游胜地，马来西亚提供的医疗设施（包括全面、第二及第三阶的医疗器材）水平相去不远，但是价格比美国、欧洲及其它发达国家低廉。
槟城比新加坡大一倍半，人口160万或新加坡的30%。槟城拥有超过10家私人医院，其中有七家专科医院已经站出来成立一个协会，共同推广槟城的医疗旅游。
这就是槟城医疗保健协会，这些医院展示各自的独特之处，却拥有共同特性。他们都是不同的商业个体，但是他们都热衷于把槟城推广为医疗保健旅游胜地。
槟城人向来懂得审慎管理资源、财务或人员。槟城医疗保健协会也具有这些素质，不只推广各自的医院，也向东南亚地区的潜在病患推广槟城为医疗保健中心。
看到业者的努力，我也希望可以发展及推广槟城做为“区域性医疗保健城”。做为一个医保城，槟城不只是提供医保服务，它还需要拓展各方面的服务，从这里开始：
-抵达槟城国际机场或其它入境点;
-病患的机场- 医院载送服务，病患家属的住宿
-医院的治疗
-病患家属每天往返医院的载送服务
-病患 家属的旅游配套
-在医院里或本地住房的疗养或康复
-医疗后期服务
为了提供更完善及相辅相成的服务，我们采纳合作竞争(cooperative competition) 方式，让各领域的服务业者加入。这包括：
-旅游业者
-医院
-酒店、出租公寓及其它住房
-交通业者
-餐饮业者
-及其它相关的服务业者都必须投资资源，让这个医保城的概念实现。
我相信，服务业者将会积极参与这项概念的发展，因为医保城的成功，也意味他们的利润将增加。
做为医保城，东南亚甚至更远地区的病患都能来到槟城，寻求全方位及低廉的治疗服务。全方面医疗将促进各行各业的合作关系，进而让医疗业在物理、精神、情绪、社会等方面达到最好的发展。全方位的医疗业不只迎合人们对医疗的更高要求，即它不只是治病角色，还包括为个人身心均衡发展的教育和责任。
林冠英