The Official Launching of Fully Automated Early Warning Scoring System (EWS) Penang Adventist Hospital

Speech by Chief Minister of Penang

 At The Official Launching of Fully Automated Early Warning Scoring System (EWS) Penang Adventist Hospital

23 October 2018

 

Your Excellency Mr. Shinichiro Kanoya
Consul General of Japan

Dr Thomas Tean
Chief Operating Office of Penang Adventist Hospital

Mr Bidur Dhaul
Senior Director, Business Head of MATC Business of Philips

Thank you for inviting me to grace the Official Launching of Penang Adventist Hospital’s Fully Automated Early Warning Scoring System (EWS). I am very pleased to be here today among this distinguished gathering of honoured guests.

The healthcare sector has been experiencing a robust growth over the past decade. The Ministry of Health Malaysia further added that this sector also has one of the highest multipliers in the country’s economy.

Business consulting firm, Frost & Sullivan forecasted that the total healthcare industry spending in Malaysia, which stood at RM52 billion at the end of 2017, is expected to reach about RM80 billion by 2020. This rapid growth is due in part to the increasing demand for healthcare services, and the emergence of new care models such as IT-related healthcare.

We certainly cannot deny the benefits of technology as much of the recent progress we have seen in the healthcare field is largely due to technological innovations. Among the many advantages of technology in healthcare are the decline in preventable death cases, along with a general improvement in patient well-being.

I am pleased to note that Penang Adventist Hospital, in its latest endeavour to provide for the healthcare needs of the community in Penang and for our international visitors, is making full use of the benefits modern technology presents.

It is even more heartening to learn that the hospital has chosen Philips, an international leading health technology company which focuses on improving people’s health and enabling better outcomes across the health continuum, to embark on this meaningful journey.

Global demand for healthcare services is expected to continuously expand in the future due to projected demographic shifts, such as an increase in the ageing population, life expectancy and lifestyle diseases.

By investing in this system, the hospital has put Penang at the forefront by being the only healthcare provider in the Asia Pacific region to implement the largest coverage of a fully automated EWS system for 214 in-patient beds. I am sure that with this move, Penang Adventist Hospital will be able to greatly enhance the quality of its patient care and safety standards. I was told that the fully automated EWS system can help to identify and detect subtle signs of deterioration in patients' hours before a medical event, thereby preventing serious complications and even death. Our local patients and medical tourists can now have more confidence knowing that their medical treatment is better taken care off.

Healthcare in Penang is an attractive proposition, offering world-class quality healthcare, which is easily accessible and competitively affordable. Many medical tourists are attracted to seek healthcare treatment in Penang not only due to the quality medical care offered by our healthcare professionals, the relatively affordable prices, and ease of communication, but also because of the “rest, relax and recuperate” opportunities available in Penang’s resort like location and facilities.

Statistics from Penang Global Tourism (PGT) revealed that in 2016, Penang received 347,100 healthcare travelers and contributed to about RM458,262,629 in revenue. For 2017, the number of Penang's foreign patient’s arrival rose to 382,164 and this accounted for RM550,274,088 in medical tourism receipt.

The Penang State Government aspires to transform Penang into a location of choice for investors, destination of choice for tourists and habitat of choice for residents. In ensuring these are achievable, we need to position Penang as a preferred healthcare destination as being healthy is a basic human need. We want all Penangites and our visitors to be healthy.

I thank Penang Adventist Hospital for supporting the Penang State Government's call to healthcare providers to continuously enhance on their patient care quality and to upgrade their facilities for the benefit of the people.

I am confident the team at Penang Adventist Hospital will continue to initiate new ways in delivering its patient care, and to ensure not only Penangites but people from all over the world who come to Penang for medical care continue to have access to quality healthcare.

Finally, congratulations to Penang Adventist Hospital on the Official Launching of your fully automated EWS system, and to Philips for providing yet another successful healthcare solution.

Thank you.