LAUNCHING OF THERAPEDICTM BRAIN AND SPINE ROBOTIC CENTER
SPEECH BY YAB TUAN CHOW KON YEOW
THE RIGHT HONOURABLE CHIEF MINISTER OF PENANG
LAUNCHING OF THERAPEDICTM BRAIN AND SPINE ROBOTIC CENTER
25 OCTOBER 2020
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Yang Berhormat Chris Lee Chun Kit
Pulau Tikus State Assemblyman
Dr Mary Ann Harris
President of Penang Medical Tourism
James Tan
Founder of Therapedic
Jennifer Lok
CEO of Therapedic
Distinguished Guests
Members of the Media
Ladies and Gentlemen
A very good afternoon. Thank you for inviting me to the launch of the Therapedic Brain and Spine Robotic Center, the first Robotic Rehabilitation Center in north Malaysia. It brings me great pleasure to be here today with all of you to welcome the digital transformations that will help save lives.
First and foremost, congratulations and well done to Therapedic who had taken the initiative in revolutionising the rehabilitation ecosystem by introducing a state-of-the-art Robotic Rehabilitation Center in Penang. This center will help increase our State’s liveability by enhancing the quality of life and at the same time improve our welfare and care systems.
Ladies and gentlemen, studies have shown that stroke is the second leading cause of death and a leading cause of various disabilities in Malaysia. Proper guidelines and care are imperative to ensure the best available therapy is instituted.
The effects of a stroke are not only on the patient but also on the family and caregivers. The expenditure of long post stroke rehabilitation is often a financial burden for an individual or the family. Not forgetting that caregivers could also experience mental stress. We also know that it takes time for neurological conditions to recover and it could take years for patients to return to their normal self.
Penang has continuously performed well in the field of medical tourism by being the destination of choice for affordable and quality healthcare. From January to April 2020, Penang recorded a total revenue of RM105,718,703 in medical tourism. With the Covid-19 pandemic, our medical tourism was hit badly, and we are currently in the recovery stage. Despite the Covid-19 challenges, Therapedic managed to invest RM2 million into this centre. Their commitment to offer innovative robotic rehabilitation at affordable cost is admirable and commendable. In fact, this is the most affordable Robotic Rehabilitation treatment center in South East Asia. This initiative would benefit the people and further strengthen Penang’s position as a medical hub by offering high quality health care at affordable prices.
I am also glad that Therapedic is a registered medical rehabilitation center, and insurance claims are possible for Robotic Rehabilitation to ease the financial cost burden of the patients.
Digitalisation has changed the way we live, and I believe that digital transformation in rehabilitation technologies would bring hope to the hopeless, accelerate patient recovery and increase life expectancy.
In closing, I would like to congratulate Therapedic for the launching of their Robotic Rehabilitation Center. I wish them all the best and I look forward to more medical innovations that will continue to benefit the needy, the people and the State.
Thank you.