Mount Elizabeth growing stronger in healthcare
Mount Elizabeth Hospital in Singapore has continued its stellar growth in the past 35 years to become one of the most well-respected and famous brands for healthcare providers in the country and region.
Officials of the hospital -- one of the four owned by Parkway Pantai in the city state -- credited its exceptional medical talent, focus on providing top-class services and continuous investment in modern medical equipment for the glaring success.
“Mount Elizabeth has become one of the most well-respected and famous brands for healthcare,” said Alvin Neo, chief marketing officer of Parkway.
He said people in South Asia, India and Bangladesh know Mount Elizabeth as a centre for superlative medical care.
“We are quite happy that we have reached this stage,” Neo told The Daily Star in an interview at The Westin
yesterday.
He was in Dhaka to celebrate the 35th founding anniversary of Mount Elizabeth with its local partners and patients and thank them for their support.
He said his team would also update people on the latest medical treatment and facilities available at Mount Elizabeth.
“Hospitals are usually about sick-care, but we see it as more than that. To us, our mission is providing healthcare which also involves prevention and healthy lifestyle.”
Parkway owns Mount Elizabeth Orchard, Mount Elizabeth Novena, Gleneagles Hospital and Parkway East Hospital.
“Due to this, you can always find a room and a place at an operating theatre,” said Neo.
Last year, 59,388 people took treatment at the four Parkway hospitals, up 7.1 percent from 2012. Parkway's market share stands at 24 percent, according to the Singapore Department of Statistics.
Of them, 23,904 took treatment at Mount Elizabeth Orchard, the most popular among the four.
About half of the patients come from overseas. Most of them come from Indonesia, but South Asia does not lag far behind.
Between 200 and 300 Bangladeshis visit Parkway Hospitals every year, Neo said.
“It is a testimony to the fact that we are offering the best care and value to the patients. If we don't provide them the best care, why would they come after so many years?”
The group, however, is not complacent, he said.
“We still try to keep improving our services and innovating to bring the latest medical techniques and equipment so we can take care of our patients with the most up-to-date treatment options
possible.”
Neo, who has been working with Parkway for a year and a half now, said all of the Parkway doctors are senior physicians and are from public hospitals, and over 70 percent of them have been trained at top institutions and hospitals in the world.
“You will never be seen by a junior doctor -- you have that assurance of quality.”
He said their hospitals are always investing in latest equipment and treatment.
For example, he said the hospitals are employing robots during prostate surgery to aid surgeons for more precise outcomes. As a result, the risk of being impotent has gone down sharply.
Parkway has 1,300 doctors, allowing the hospitals to deliver services with speed and quality.
“That is the uniqueness -- you don't have to wait. You are assured of high-quality doctors and nurses using the latest medical equipment,” said Neo, who also worked for Johnson & Johnson and Procter & Gamble for 17 years.
Parkway has set up patient assistance centres in many countries to help overseas patients find doctors and have smooth visit and treatment experience to and in Singapore.
It has two such centres in Dhaka and Chittagong.
The hospitals also work with local doctors and hospitals in its overseas markets so patients, who have taken treatment at Parkway hospitals, are always in touch with their staff and doctors.
Neo said the centres in Dhaka and Chittagong have been successful so far and are able to serve the patients who are looking for overseas treatment.
In Bangladesh, United Hospital is Parkway's partner hospital.
About the treatment cost, Neo said Parkway hospitals probably cost two to three times less than those in the US or UK but higher than in Malaysia, depending on the procedures.
He however said one should not go by the cost if they expect top-class health facility.
“If you look at the cost, then none will visit the US for medical treatment -- it is so expensive there. Still, people are going there. You go there because you have the highest chance to get better. Likewise, we believe that if you come to Mount Elizabeth you have the highest chance to get better.”
“Healthcare is something that should not be bought on a discount basis, as health is irreplaceable and priceless. The most important thing is whether you are getting the best doctors, facilities and services.”
The cost of treatment is the same for local Singaporeans and overseas patients, said the 47-year-old.
Noel Yeo, assistant vice-president of Mount Elizabeth Orchard, said Parkway hospitals are doing well in terms of business. He, however, declined to give numbers.
The opening of Mount Elizabeth Novena two years ago doubled the capacity of the hospitals. “We did it because there is huge demand from patients for good doctors and treatment.”
The occupancy rate at Parkway hospitals is about 80 percent, according to Yeo.
The centre yesterday launched a Facebook page for patients to get information.
He said the hospitals provide information and make content available online so patients can gather information easily and take informed decision.
The four hospitals are connected to 30 hospitals globally under the Integrated Healthcare Holdings, a Malaysian private health company and Southeast Asia's largest private health company.
“It helps as we can share resources, expertise, experience and knowledge -- we learn about best practices across hospitals.”
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