Patient expectations reshaping Malaysia's healthcare sector

New Straits Times

2 days ago

KUALA LUMPUR: Increasing patient expectations have reshaped the healthcare industry, and hospitals must embrace change and innovation to ensure sustainable growth, said Negri Sembilan Chinese Maternity Association (NSCMA) president Datuk Seri Lee Tian Hock.
Lee, speaking at NSCMA's recent extraordinary general meeting (EGM),
warned that stagnation and complacency would inevitably lead to obsolescence.
With this in mind, he said the hospital management committee has approved the CMH Specialist Hospital expansion plan, which will be carried out in two phases.
He noted that Phase 1 involves the construction of a six-storey carpark block.
The RM10 million project began on March 1, 2025, and is expected to be completed by the end of October.
He said the new facility will add 310 parking bays to meet growing demand.
Lee said Phase 2 will involve the construction of a 10-storey medical block and a basement car park.
"This will be the most ambitious development in our hospital's history - a landmark project in March next year.
"The total cost of the entire redevelopment project is estimated at RM120 million.
"This marks a significant milestone in the expansion of our hospital capacity and the upgrading of our medical facilities," he added.
Lee said key features of the new medical block include an additional 100 inpatient beds, increasing the total from 66 to 166 beds, as well as an expansion of specialist clinics from 16 to 45, significantly broadening service coverage.
He noted that to fund the phase, NSCMA will launch a fundraising exercise via issuance of new ordinary shares, targeting RM45 million.
This represents 31 per cent of NSCMH Holdings Sdn Bhd's equity.
He said the overall redevelopment cost is estimated at RM120 million, with the remaining balance to be financed through bank loans.
"We anticipate groundbreaking of the medical block to begin in March 2026 and estimate to building completion on June 2029, with full operations expected by January 2030," he added.
However, Lee said before construction begins, two existing buildings will be demolished in January 2026.
This includes the most iconic one, built in 1935 and officiated by the legendary Aw Boon Haw and Aw Boon Par, along with NSCMA's founding president Datuk Wong Yick Tong.
"The commemorative plaque honouring the Aw brothers will be carefully relocated to a prominent place in the new medical block," he said.
Lee noted that the other building to be demolished is the Tan Lam Hui Dialysis Centre, donated by Tan Sri Vincent Tan in memory of his father with a RM3 million contribution.
He said the new dialysis unit will continue to bear the name "Tan Lam Hui Dialysis Centre" to honour this philanthropic legacy.
According to Lee, the RM45 million that NSCMA is raising this time will be used to cover 30 per cent of the construction cost for the new medical block.
"We will secure a bank loan of RM80 million to fund the remaining cost of the entire project.
"Similarly, this RM80 million loan will be personally guaranteed by myself, and corporate guaranteed by NSCMA and NSCMH Holdings Sdn Bhd," he said.
Lee noted that once the new block is completed and fully operational, NSCMA will consider listing NSCMH Holdings on the stock exchange, when the time and conditions are right.
"Our ultimate goal is to achieve corporate good governance - establishing a robust, corporate governance system to enhance competitiveness while balancing stakeholder interests and generating long-term social value.