Latest news with #HealthTransformationProgramme
The Sun
12-05-2025
- Business
- The Sun
Columbia Asia expands services and tech
PETALING JAYA: Columbia Asia is setting sights on a new benchmark in private healthcare delivery in Malaysia, with a focus on data-driven expansion, cutting-edge technology and patient-centric services. Regional CEO Tom Lim (pic) said the healthcare provider is evolving to serve rapidly growing communities and the private hospital is adapting its care model for long-term national impact. 'Building on the momentum from 2024, Columbia Asia is intensifying efforts in 2025 with major expansions across its hospital network. A highlight is the upcoming launch of Columbia Asia Hospital, Batu Kawan in Penang, which will be the group's 13th hospital in Malaysia. 'The new facility will serve the fast-developing township of Bandar Cassia, home to a growing population, industrial activity, and international interest in medical tourism. 'This is a community that is expanding quickly but lacks comprehensive private healthcare. We saw a clear opportunity to fill that gap with a hospital designed around accessibility, affordability, and local partnerships,' he told SunBiz. Simultaneously, he noted that Columbia Asia is expanding its Cheras hospital to increase its capacity and introduce broader service offerings, further strengthening its position in the Klang Valley. 'Columbia Asia takes a multi-factorial approach when determining where to expand. We evaluate demographic trends, infrastructure readiness, and gaps in healthcare accessibility, using government and public data to design each hospital's core services. 'We are not just building hospitals, we study the communities that we are meant to serve. Every location is chosen for its potential impact, and every hospital is tailored to meet unique local health needs.' Furthermore, he said Columbia Asia continues to strengthen healthcare technology with the ongoing enhancement of its proprietary Hospital Information System (HIS), CARE21. 'Originally introduced in 2007 as one of Malaysia's first paperless systems in private healthcare, it is now being upgraded to Modern CARE21. 'This upgrade is central to how we deliver care, streamlining operations, reducing paperwork, and enabling faster decision-making across departments,' Lim noted. He said the hospital also leverages electronic medical records, mobile engagement apps, and telemedicine platforms to improve care coordination and patient accessibility, adding that these tools have been especially beneficial for chronic disease management, allowing patients to consult doctors and manage their conditions remotely. Recognising the shift toward preventive and personalised healthcare, Lim highlighted that Columbia Asia has launched its Health Transformation Programme (HTP), a lifestyle-oriented wellness initiative focused on behaviour modification. 'We are also rolling out a Prediabetic Care Programme designed to offer long-term, multidisciplinary care to patients at risk of chronic illnesses. 'We are moving beyond traditional treatment to empowering patients to manage their health proactively. This is how we create better, longer-lasting health outcomes,' he said. As urban areas grow and new townships take shape, he noted that Columbia Asia's approach continues to be rooted in accessibility. 'Each hospital is designed for easy navigation, clustered services, and affordability.'
The Independent
09-02-2025
- Health
- The Independent
DWP confirms changes coming to PIP – including eligibility, assessments and payments
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has given a new update on planned changes to personal independence payments (PIP), a disability benefit claimed by over three million people in the UK. Work continues on a programme designed to 'overhaul' the benefit, social security minister Sir Stephen Timms has confirmed. Writing in a statement to MPs, he says the plans will 'transform' the entire service, with changes to eligibility, decisions and payments. His comments come ahead of a DWP green paper which is set to outline sweeping reforms to the benefits system. However, these changes to PIP will come instead as part of the government's previously announced Health Transformation Programme. Launched by the previous Conservative administration, the programme intends to simplify the PIP application process. It will also introduce a new single health assessment service for all benefits that require a functional health assessment, with a national rollout planned for 2029. Sir Stephen said: 'the Health Transformation Programme is modernising health and disability benefit services, to improve people's experience of applying for PIP. The Programme will transform the entire PIP service, from finding out about benefits through to decisions, eligibility, and payments.' 'The Programme communicates and engages frequently with disabled people and external stakeholders – including national charities and other organisations that support people with disabilities – about proposed changes. Their opinions and suggestions are taken on board as we test new iterations of the transformed service.' In Spring, the DWP will release its Health and Disability green paper, which will reveal plans for even more changes to the disability benefits system. Details have not yet been confirmed, but the government has committed to matching the £3 billion in welfare savings pencilled in by the previous Conservative administration. However, the government has said it will re-consult on the plans after the high court found that the previous administration's consultation was unlawful. Reforms to the work capability assessment are understood to remain central to the overhaul, with changes to PIP also widely expected. It's likely the changes will make it more difficult for people to qualify for certain disability benefits, especially for reasons related to mental health. In his statement, Sir Stephen said: 'We believe there is a strong case to change the system of health and disability benefits across Great Britain so that it better enables people to enter and remain in work, to respond to the complex and fluctuating nature of the health conditions many people live with today.' Labour has said its coming reforms are necessary to balance government spending, but several leading charities including the Joseph Rowntree Foundation and Disability Rights UK have warned that the new consultation for the changes 'must not be a sham.' Anela Anwar, chief executive of anti-poverty charity Z2K, who co-ordinated the letter, said: 'It is deeply disappointing to learn that this government wants to revive the previous government's discredited and dangerous plans to remove vital financial support for seriously ill and disabled people. 'The government should abandon these cruel and poorly thought-out plans. And when it comes to consulting on hugely important changes to the benefits system, this government must not repeat the mistakes of the previous one. We need to a see a genuine consultation that gives disabled people a proper chance to respond to plans which could see them plunged into deep poverty.'
Yahoo
06-02-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
DWP confirms changes coming to PIP – from eligibility assessments to payments
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has given a new update on planned changes to personal independence payments (PIP), a disability benefit claimed by over three million people in the UK. Work continues on a programme designed to 'overhaul' the benefit, social security minister Sir Stephen Timms has confirmed. Writing in a statement to MPs, he says the plans will 'transform' the entire service, with changes to eligibility, decisions and payments. His comments come ahead of a DWP green paper which is set to outline sweeping reforms to the benefits system. However, these changes to PIP will come instead as part of the government's previously announced Health Transformation Programme. Launched by the previous Conservative administration, the programme intends to simplify the PIP application process. It will also introduce a new single health assessment service for all benefits that require a functional health assessment, with a national rollout planned for 2029. Sir Stephen said: 'the Health Transformation Programme is modernising health and disability benefit services, to improve people's experience of applying for PIP. The Programme will transform the entire PIP service, from finding out about benefits through to decisions, eligibility, and payments.' 'The Programme communicates and engages frequently with disabled people and external stakeholders – including national charities and other organisations that support people with disabilities – about proposed changes. Their opinions and suggestions are taken on board as we test new iterations of the transformed service.' In Spring, the DWP will release its Health and Disability green paper, which will reveal plans for even more changes to the disability benefits system. Details have not yet been confirmed, but the government has committed to matching the £3 billion in welfare savings pencilled in by the previous Conservative administration. However, the government has said it will re-consult on the plans after the high court found that the previous administration's consultation was unlawful. Reforms to the work capability assessment are understood to remain central to the overhaul, with changes to PIP also widely expected. It's likely the changes will make it more difficult for people to qualify for certain disability benefits, especially for reasons related to mental health. In his statement, Sir Stephen said: 'We believe there is a strong case to change the system of health and disability benefits across Great Britain so that it better enables people to enter and remain in work, to respond to the complex and fluctuating nature of the health conditions many people live with today.' Ahead of the paper's official release, several leading charities have warned that the consultation for the changes 'must not be a sham.' Labour has said its coming reforms are necessary to balance government spending, but several leading charities including the Joseph Rowntree Foundation and Disability Rights UK have warned that the new consultation for the changes 'must not be a sham.' Anela Anwar, chief executive of anti-poverty charity Z2K, who co-ordinated the letter, said: 'It is deeply disappointing to learn that this government wants to revive the previous government's discredited and dangerous plans to remove vital financial support for seriously ill and disabled people. 'The government should abandon these cruel and poorly thought-out plans. And when it comes to consulting on hugely important changes to the benefits system, this government must not repeat the mistakes of the previous one. We need to a see a genuine consultation that gives disabled people a proper chance to respond to plans which could see them plunged into deep poverty.'
The Independent
06-02-2025
- Health
- The Independent
DWP confirms changes coming to PIP – from eligibility assessments to payments
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has given a new update on planned changes to personal independence payments (PIP), a disability benefit claimed by over three million people in the UK. Work continues on a programme designed to 'overhaul' the benefit, social security minister Sir Stephen Timms has confirmed. Writing in a statement to MPs, he says the plans will 'transform' the entire service, with changes to eligibility, decisions and payments. His comments come ahead of a DWP green paper which is set to outline sweeping reforms to the benefits system. However, these changes to PIP will come instead as part of the government's previously announced Health Transformation Programme. Launched by the previous Conservative administration, the programme intends to simplify the PIP application process. It will also introduce a new single health assessment service for all benefits that require a functional health assessment, with a national rollout planned for 2029. Sir Stephen said: 'the Health Transformation Programme is modernising health and disability benefit services, to improve people's experience of applying for PIP. The Programme will transform the entire PIP service, from finding out about benefits through to decisions, eligibility, and payments.' 'The Programme communicates and engages frequently with disabled people and external stakeholders – including national charities and other organisations that support people with disabilities – about proposed changes. Their opinions and suggestions are taken on board as we test new iterations of the transformed service.' In Spring, the DWP will release its Health and Disability green paper, which will reveal plans for even more changes to the disability benefits system. Details have not yet been confirmed, but the government has committed to matching the £3 billion in welfare savings pencilled in by the previous Conservative administration. However, the government has said it will re-consult on the plans after the high court found that the previous administration's consultation was unlawful. Reforms to the work capability assessment are understood to remain central to the overhaul, with changes to PIP also widely expected. It's likely the changes will make it more difficult for people to qualify for certain disability benefits, especially for reasons related to mental health. In his statement, Sir Stephen said: 'We believe there is a strong case to change the system of health and disability benefits across Great Britain so that it better enables people to enter and remain in work, to respond to the complex and fluctuating nature of the health conditions many people live with today.' Ahead of the paper's official release, several leading charities have warned that the consultation for the changes 'must not be a sham.' including the Joseph Rowntree Foundation and Disability Rights UK have warned that the new consultation for the changes 'must not be a sham.' Anela Anwar, chief executive of anti-poverty charity Z2K, who co-ordinated the letter, said: 'It is deeply disappointing to learn that this government wants to revive the previous government's discredited and dangerous plans to remove vital financial support for seriously ill and disabled people. 'The government should abandon these cruel and poorly thought-out plans. And when it comes to consulting on hugely important changes to the benefits system, this government must not repeat the mistakes of the previous one. We need to a see a genuine consultation that gives disabled people a proper chance to respond to plans which could see them plunged into deep poverty.'
