Latest news with #IslandHospital
Business Times
5 days ago
- Business
- Business Times
IHH Healthcare revenue could soften on medical inflation measures
[SINGAPORE] IHH Healthcare will likely face 'some softening of (patient admissions) and revenue' from measures the group has implemented to combat medical inflation in Malaysia, but the situation has 'improved considerably', said its group chief executive Dr Prem Nair on Friday (May 30). The group is now negotiating directly with insurers, offering more packages and discounts, he said. Issues that triggered the medical inflation issue, such as a weak ringgit, have 'abated significantly'. '(Medical inflation) has not fully gone away, but we have all now come to the table,' said Dr Nair, noting that the group is also in discussion with various parties including Malaysia's health ministry and life insurance association to curb medical inflation. The group in February guided that the country's current sustained period of medical inflation may affect IHH Healthcare's profit margins. Bank Negara Malaysia cited data indicating that medical cost inflation in Malaysia reached 15 per cent in 2024, above the global and Asia-Pacific average of 10 per cent, and rolled out measures to tackle the high costs. Dr Nair noted that although Malaysia now faces sustained medical inflation, these issues previously occurred in other markets IHH Healthcare has operations in. BT in your inbox Start and end each day with the latest news stories and analyses delivered straight to your inbox. Sign Up Sign Up These countries have since come up with ways to manage high costs. For example, in Singapore, the government formed a committee for payers, providers and regulators to discuss, he said. 'Payer-provider issues have been with us in healthcare for the longest time... and it will never go away because there is a third party paying for the patient,' said Dr Nair. 'I can guarantee it will come up again in another country, and we will have to use the same playbook to manage these issues as well.' He was speaking at an analyst briefing after the group's first-quarter earnings. IHH Healthcare posted net profit of RM514 million (S$156.3 million) for the three months ended Mar 31, down 33 per cent from RM768 million in the corresponding year-ago period. Despite the impact of medical inflation and the Ramadan fasting period on Malaysia, contributions from Island Hospital in Penang resulted in the segment's revenue gaining 17 per cent year on year to RM1.1 billion. The segment's earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation gained 14 per cent on year to RM273 million. The group in November last year completed the acquisition of the hospital. This resulted in a 'robust increase in in-patient admissions (in Malaysia), up 6 per cent', said group chief corporate officer Ashok Pandit. Group chief financial officer Dilip Kadambi added that without the medical tourism-focused Island Hospital, revenue growth in Malaysia would have been 'probably flattish' with a slight increase. Meanwhile, Singapore's Mount Elizabeth Hospital, which is currently operating at a lower capacity as it undergoes renovations, is on track to fully reopen by Q3 this year, said the group's senior management. 'While Q2 continues to be soft, we anticipate a reasonable rebound in the second half of the year. This recovery will be driven by successful negotiation with payers and completion of Mount Elizabeth Hospital renovations,' said Kadambi. Maybank Securities analysts Nur Natasha Ariza and Yin Shao Yang said the results are in line with expectations and IHH Healthcare's growth outlook remains intact, as it looks to add around 4,000 beds in several markets by 2028. 'Despite some geopolitical, structural and regulatory challenges across the different countries, we stay bullish on resilient demand and growing case-mix intensity as IHH remains focused on organic and opportunistic inorganic growth,' they said.
The Star
5 days ago
- Business
- The Star
IHH revenue grows to RM6.29bil in 1Q25
PETALING JAYA: IHH Healthcare Bhd will be forging ahead with its expansion and growth strategies to meet the increasing demand for quality healthcare services locally and across the region. Following the acquisitions of Timberland Medical Centre in Sarawak and Island Hospital in Penang in 2024, the group said in a Bursa Malaysia filing that it had opened the 127-bed Acibadem Kartal Hospital in Turkiye in the first quarter ended March 31, 2025 (1Q25) and expects to complete the acquisition of the 228-bedded Shrimann Superspeciality Hospital in India during the year. For 1Q25, IHH's net profit dropped to RM514mil from RM768mil in the previous corresponding quarter, while revenue grew to RM6.29bil from RM5.96bil a year earlier. 'The growth in revenue was driven by a sustained demand for quality healthcare services, a case-mix of more acute patients and price adjustments to counter inflation. 'The consolidation of Island Hospital, which was acquired in November 2024, also contributed to the increase in revenue.' IHH said its Singapore hospital inpatient admissions decreased 6% to 14,493 in 1Q25 while its revenue per inpatient admission increased 10% to RM67,294. 'Malaysia's hospital inpatient admissions increased 6% at 62,406 in 1Q25 while its revenue per inpatient admission increased 6% to RM11,334. 'India's hospital inpatient admissions increased 7% to 78,485 in 1Q25 while its revenue per inpatient admission increased 4% to RM10,152.' Meanwhile, Turkiye and Europe hospital inpatient admissions was flat at 66,776 in 1Q25 while its revenue per inpatient admission increased 16% to RM13,522 with price adjustments, especially in Turkiye, to counter hyperinflation. While the demand for quality healthcare remains robust, IHH said ongoing industry-wide challenges including rising cost pressures as well as higher energy costs and staff costs. 'In addition, payor pressures from both public and private insurers continue to shape reimbursement dynamics in the industry.' To unlock value from its key markets and to address the industry-wide challenges, IHH said it has embarked on a multi-year transformation initiative to drive continuous improvement through seven focus areas. The areas are clinical excellence, patient experience, new care models, operational excellence, payor and regulator engagement, employee and doctor value proposition, and the advancement of technology, data, and artificial intelligence. 'The group remains in a good position given its strong track record in delivering high-quality and cost-effective healthcare. 'By leveraging operational synergies across its international network, the group remains confident in its ability to maintain cost efficiency while upholding its commitment to value-based healthcare.' Despite global economic and geopolitical headwinds, IHH said it remains well-poised to navigate uncertainties, underpinned by strong fundamentals, strategic growth initiatives, and long-term healthcare megatrends.
The Star
6 days ago
- Business
- The Star
IHH to forge ahead with expansion and growth strategies
PETALING JAYA: IHH Healthcare Bhd will be forging ahead with its expansion and growth strategies to meet the increasing demand for quality healthcare services locally and across the region. Following the acquisitions of Timberland Medical Centre in Sarawak and Island Hospital in Penang in 2024, the group said in a Bursa Malaysia filing that it had opened the 127-bed Acibadem Kartal Hospital in Turkey in the first quarter of 2025 (1Q25) and expects to complete the acquisition of the 228-bedded Shrimann Superspeciality Hospital in India during the year. For 1Q25 (ended March 31, 2025), IHH's net profit dropped to RM514mil from RM768mil in the previous corresponding quarter, while revenue grew to RM6.29bil from RM5.96bil a year earlier. 'The growth in revenue was driven by a sustained demand for quality healthcare services, a case-mix of more acute patients and price adjustments to counter inflation. 'The consolidation of Island Hospital, which was acquired in November 2024, also contributed to the increase in revenue.' IHH said its Singapore hospital inpatient admissions decreased 6% to 14,493 in Q15 while its revenue per inpatient admission increased 10% to RM67,294. 'Malaysia's hospital inpatient admissions increased 6% at 62,406 in 1Q25 while its revenue per inpatient admission increased 6% to RM11,334. 'India's hospital inpatient admissions increased 7% to 78,485 in 1Q25 while its revenue per inpatient admission increased 4% to RM10,152.' Meanwhile, Turkiye and Europe hospital inpatient admissions was flat at 66,776 in 1Q25 while its revenue per inpatient admission increased 16% to RM13,522 with price adjustments, especially in Turkiye, to counter hyperinflation. While the demand for quality healthcare remains robust, IHH said ongoing industry-wide challenges including rising cost pressures as well as higher energy costs and staff costs. 'In addition, payor pressures from both public and private insurers continue to shape reimbursement dynamics in the industry.' To unlock value from its key markets and to address the industry-wide challenges, IHH said it has embarked on a multi-year transformation initiative to drive continuous improvement through seven focus areas - clinical excellence, patient experience, new care models, operational excellence, payor and regulator engagement, employee and doctor value proposition, and the advancement of technology, data, and artificial intelligence. 'The group remains in a good position given its strong track record in delivering high-quality and cost-effective healthcare. 'By leveraging operational synergies across its international network, the group remains confident in its ability to maintain cost efficiency while upholding its commitment to value-based healthcare.' Despite global economic and geopolitical headwinds, IHH said it remains well-poised to navigate uncertainties, underpinned by strong fundamentals, strategic growth initiatives, and long-term healthcare megatrends.
