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Myanmar re-grants business licenses to more private hospitals

The Myanmar Health Ministry has re-granted business licenses to more private hospitals and clinics as well as other health service centers in the country to run in 2010 after such grant was suspended for a time, sources with the health department said on Friday.

Healthcare-related facilities, medical equipment and qualified healthcare staff shall be in place by the time when it starts operation as prescribed, the sources said.

Such measures shall be carried out nationwide by the central private healthcare department to be organized, it also said.

There are altogether 50 private hospitals, over 300 special healthcare centers and over 1,800 clinics operating in the Yangon division, statistics show.

Meanwhile, a private special treatment hospital in a new satellite town in Myanmar's new capital of
Nay Pyi Taw is under construction to add to the developing health facilities there.

The Okdarathiri Myothit Private Hospital of Singapore-standard is being built to become the first of its kind in the new capital.

Aimed at developing private healthcare services and utilizing effectively the resources of private sector in providing such services to the public in accordance with the national health policy, Myanmar permits systematic running of private health care services which include private clinic service, private hospital service, private maternity home service, nursing home service and private mobile healthcare service.

For the development of the health sector, Myanmar has drawn up its health vision 2030 with the aim to provide comprehensive health care for the entire people.

Location - Myanmar

Source: Xinhua

Home-building and hospitals boost Nov construction

The pace of residential home-building continues to pick up, although few new apartments are being built and non-residential construction is down across most sectors, according to November 2009 building consent totals released this morning by Statistics New Zealand.

Consents were issued in November for some 1,458 new housing units, excluding apartments, an increase of 3.1% on November 2008, and follows an 11% increase between the October months of 2008 and 2009. The value of non-apartment residential consents, at $537 million in November, was 18% higher than the same month a year earlier.

Canterbury, Wellington and Hawke's Bay showed the strongest residential unit growth. While housing consents have been on the rise since May of this year, activity remains "considerably lower than the levels seen before mid-2007", business statistics manager Louise Holmes-Oliver said in a statement.

Meanwhile, non-residential consents continued to show a lumpy pattern, with the value of consents issued in November falling 2.3% to $389 million compared with a year earlier, bolstered by several new hospital projects gaining consents during the month, which accounted for consents worth $88 million.

Farm and storage building consents were hardest hit for the month, their total value down $39 million and $22 million respectively for the month, although both are relatively small contributors to the total non-residential building sector.

Just 42 consents were issued for apartment construction during November, pulling down to 1.2% the growth between the Novembers of 2009 and 2008.

Reflecting the depth of the recent recession, the total value of all building consents issued in the 12 months to November was down 11% at $1.242 billion, with residential buildings down 20% and non-residential buildings up 0.7%.

Location - New Zealand

Source: Xinhua

Govt grants first private hospital licences

The government has granted the first two investment permits for the construction and operation of hospitals as demand for quality medical treatment soars.

Officials from the Ministry of Planning and Investment and the Ministry of Health yesterday said a Lao-Chinese businessman would use US$4 million to build hospitals in Bokeo and Oudomxay provinces, where demand for healthcare is high.

Each hospital will have 36 beds and be equipped with modern equipment, offering better services to people living in the two border provinces. Both local and foreign doctors will work at the hospitals, officials said.

Investment Promotion Department Deputy Director General, Mr Bouatha Kattiya, said the government made the decision to allow private sector investment in public health to provide local people with better medical services.

At present, Bokeo and Oudomxay provinces have state-owned hospitals but increasing numbers of foreign visitors and businesspeople have caused the hospitals to be crowded. Some people seek medical treatment in neighbouring towns in Thailand and China.

Bokeo Health Department Deputy Director, Dr Keokham Siritham, said the investors would target Chinese businesspeople working in the province, and Lao people with higher spending power.

“There are a lot of Chinese businesspeople in Bokeo who need high-quality healthcare,” he told
Vientiane Times.

At present they have to make the journey back to China or go to Thailand for the treatment they need.

Ministry of Health’s Curative Medicines Department Director General, Professor Dr Sommone Phounsavath, said the government would monitor the standard of private hospitals to ensure they provided quality services.

He said he was not concerned the two private hospitals would lead doctors employed in public hospitals to seek higher-paying jobs in the new facilities, leaving state hospitals with a shortage of personnel.

“Some doctors will leave the public hospitals, but not a significant number, as the new hospitals won’t have many vacancies,” he said.

Ministry of Health Office Head, Dr Chanthanorm Manodham, said it was government policy to allow the private sector to play a role in the development of the healthcare service, as this would provide patients with more choice.

He said people in the high-income bracket decided what hospital they would visit if there were a choice.

Lao people were now earning enough to be able to afford private treatment and many were in need of better medical services. More were seeking treatment in Thailand, despite the higher cost.

The government has offered a number of investment incentives including land concessions and profit tax exemption for investment in health and education, under the new Investment Promotion Law.

Location - Laos

Source: Vientiane Times

Revamp at Cebu City hospital

A MAJOR revamp is in the works for the Cebu City Medical Center (CCMC). It will also get a new chief of hospital. That is, if Mayor Tomas Osmeña gets his way.

Osmeña wants Dr. Edgar Abelgas, head of the emergency room (ER) services, to take over as hospital chief, saying the latter is suited for the position.

He gave the go-signal yesterday to make Abelgas’ employment with the City Government regular, but he said that it is up to Abelgas if he wants to be hospital chief.

CCMC Administrator Rene Sanapo said they are now finalizing the list of vacant positions to be filled up, from the post of hospital chief down to the head of different hospital divisions, as a means to improve the overall operations and management of CCMC.

Among the vacant positions is the head of the ER, which Abelgas may also get if he prefers the post.

Favorable feedback

In his news conference yesterday, Osmeña said he has been getting favorable feedback about Abelgas’s management of the ER, and he wants him to manage the entire hospital.

“We are headed in that direction, but it’s up to him. It’s not up to me. You should not give them more than what they can chew because they might spread themselves too thin. He’s running the ER very well and if you put him on the top, he might lose control,” Osmeña said.

Dr. Myrna Go, officer-in-charge, can be appointed assistant chief of hospital, the mayor said.

He also approved Abelgas’s request for the ER to have its own supply of medicines and other supplies at its own disposal.

“Finally, naa gyuy jewel sa CCMC. Ang iyang style is rebelde gyud and that’s what we need kay ang uban mauwaw man so igo ra gyud sila musunod (Finally, we have someone who takes charge. Not just a follower),” said Osmeña.

In an interview yesterday, Sanapo said they will accept applications and consider appointments provided the candidates are qualified based on the evaluation of the Personnel Selection Board (PSB).

“We are now reviewing the paperwork to approve the list of vacant positions that we will be filling. My role is to make sure that everyone goes through the process, through the PSB, and it is up to the mayor to approve the PSB’s recommendations,” he said.

Changing reputation

Abelgas, 52, was elated by the mayor’s compliments, and said he is willing to accept the mayor’s challenge to initiate improvements in other departments of CCMC.

He said he envisions the ER to have its own supply of medicines so patients will not have to be burdened with additional expenses for prescribed drugs and medical supplies.

The internationally-trained doctor said he wants to change CCMC’s reputation of having insufficient supply of medicines.

“I wish for the day when we will have medicines within our reach because the lack of supply causes delay in treating patients and saving lives. I’m glad the mayor listened to our appeal. Mag-unsa man ang experience sa mga tawo og wala tay tambal? Unsaon mag ug fight sa atong army sa kontra og wala tay bala (What’s the point of having an experienced medical staff if there are no medicines?)” he said.

Abelgas graduated from the Gullas College of Medicine and has a vast experience as an emergency physician, hospital management and public health officer in China, Brunei, Equatorial Guinea, Congo, Russia, South Korea, Madagascar and Australia.

He joined CCMC last September.

Location - Philippines

Source: Sun.Star Cebu

Hospital-cum-Hotel at Farrer Park, Singapore

Introduction: Connexion’s six-storey podium and two 20-storey wings will house 220 hospital beds, 189 medical suites and a hotel with 230 rooms.  A hotel operator will manage the hotel separately from the hospital.  It will target recovering patients who do not need to stay in the hospital to recuperate but may need to make regular trips back. For foreign patients, this means savings on transport costs as well, said Dr Choo.

Forty local doctors own half of the Singapore HealthPartners stakes, while the rest is owned by architect Lim-Tan Suat Hua, families linked to Malaysia’s Berjaya Group and little-known Indonesian firm Wharton Scott.

The $600 million project standing on a 1.36ha site in Race Course Road was initially scheduled to open in October next year.

Location - Singapore

Features - Mix Hospital & Hotel concept housing 220 hospital beds, 189 medical suites and a hotel with 230 rooms.

Specifications Table:

Singapore Parkway Health plans several hospitals in India

Introduction: Singapore’s Parkway Health, controlled by the US-based private equity firm Texas Pacific Group (TPG) announced that it has plans to set up several multispeciality hospitals in India. The group is also tying up with some of the leading healthcare providers in India apart from its plans to build hospitals on its own. Currently it has agreement with Apollo Hospitals Group and has bought a 50 per cent stake in the Khubchandani Hospital in Mumbai which is jointly owned by the Mauritius-based Koncentric Investments. It plans to initially invest approximately US$ 83 million (Rs 350-400 crore) in the Mumbai-based Khubchandani Hospital.

Location - Parkway Health plans to set up the multispeciality hospitals all over India.

Budget - The hospital firm plans to invest US$ 125 thousand (Rs 50-60 lakh) per bed in the project.

Features - Starting with 5-6 hospitals in metros, Parkway Health has plans to set up 300-400-bed multispeciality hospitals all over the country.

The Khubchandani Hospital, which will be a 1,000-bed facility, is expected to be operational by 2011. The agreement with Apollo Group is intended to help Parkway develop hospitals across West Bengal. This JV currently runs Apollo Gleneagles Hospital, a 325-bed multispeciality hospital in Kolkota. This hospital will cater to Eastern India and neighbouring countries like Bangladesh, Myanmar, Nepal and Bhutan

Specifications Table:

China Healthcare Corp. provides update on JV to build its 1st Hospital in China

Introduction: China Healthcare Corporation, based in Nashville, Tenn., today provided details about its project to build a state-of-the-art, 500-bed replacement hospital in Cixi, China.
China Healthcare was founded in April 2008 by Dr. Thomas F. Frist, Jr., Charles A. Elcan and Henry Zhou. In April this year, the company received final government approval for its first hospital, a full-service, acute care facility that will replace the 150-bed People's #2 Hospital. China Healthcare owns a 70 percent stake, while the Cixi government owns 30 percent of the venture.

"We're pleased to partner with the Cixi government to build and operate a modern, full-service acute care replacement hospital that will blend the best of Western healthcare with the best of the East," said Elcan, CEO of China Healthcare Holdings. "We look forward to working with Cixi government officials to bring new services and additional capacity to serve the people of Cixi and surrounding areas."

Gresham Smith and Partners, which has healthcare design expertise in the U.S. and China, in conjunction with Shanghai Institute for Architecture Design and Research, has begun designing the facility, and construction is expected to begin in 2010. China Healthcare is beginning to assemble an experienced management team, and the company is exploring additional opportunities in China.

Location - Cixi, China

Features - Full service acute care facility.

Specifications Table:

Columbia Asia plans to set up six hospitals in Malaysia

Introduction : Having hospitals in Taiping, Seremban, Puchong, Shah Alam and Miri also with the chain in India, Vietnam and Indonesia, Columbia Asia has announced its plan to build six midsize hospitals in the coming two years in Malaysia.

Location - The new healthcare facilities are likely to open in Bintulu by September 2009, Balakong by the third quarter of 2010, Bukit Rimau by the third quarter of  2010, Kota Damansara by 2011, Nusajaya by the end of 2009 and Setapak by the end of 2010.

Budget - Columbia Asia is planning to spend US$ 103 million on this expansion plan.

Features - The six mid-size hospitals will provide 480 patient beds and employ about 1,800 people. It will raise the existing number of Columbia Asia hospitals to 11 and is expected to target middle-income group by providing modern healthcare facilities.

Specifications Table:

India to build a new Cancer Institute

Introduction : The Government of India is going to build a National Institute for Cancer in the South Indian city of Chennai. The institute will have research, service and education activities and will be the first-of-its-kind in India. The institute will be built on 10 acres of land in Vepery, Chennai. This will be the second Cancer institute to open in Chennai. The institute is expected to be operational by mid 2011.

Budget - The government of India is ready to make an investment of US$ 125.2 million.

Location - The proposed National Institute for Cancer will be located in Chennai.

Features - The National Cancer Institute will provide services and treatment along with research and education activities. The research organisation would be tying up with international Cancer research organisations in Washington, USA and Leon, France.

Specifications Table:

China to build 1st Infectious Hospital in Tibet

Introduction : China will spend 80 million yuan building Tibet's first infectious hospital. The construction of the regional No. 3 People's Hospital with an area of 33.33 hectares will be launched late this year, and is expected to operate in 2011, said Yao Qingyuan, a leading official of the Tibet's Health Department. According to the 167th session of the Executive Meeting of the Standing Committee of the State Council, China plans to spend 685.65 million yuan on six projects concerning the improvement of medical and health conditions in Tibet. These projects include upgrading the basic medical facilities in agricultural and pastoral areas and construction of hospitals for women and children.

Location - Tibet

Features - Construction of the hospital including the supply of hospital equipment.

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Large Taiwan-funded hospital starts construction in Guangdong

Introduction : The commencing ceremony of first large Taiwan-funded hospital in Guangdong Province- Dongguan Tai Xin Hospital was held on June 21. Chairman Kuo Shanhui of the hospital said that the hospital was expected to be completed and put into operation by the end of 2010.

Location - Guangdong, China

Features - Dongguan Tai Xin Hospital was a comprehensive teaching hospital, integrated with clinical care, medical education and research, prevention & health care and rehabilitation services. The foundation is proposed by Taiwan Businessmen Association in Dongguan, invested by of member companies and approved by Ministry of Health. It covers an area of 230 mu, with total construction investment of RMB720m

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Indonesia Tangerang Regency Administration to resume construction of Balaraja Hospital

Introduction : The Government of India is going to build a National Institute for Cancer in the South Indian city of Chennai. The institute will have research, service and education activities and will be the first-of-its-kind in India. The institute will be built on 10 acres of land in Vepery, Chennai. This will be the second Cancer institute to open in Chennai. The institute is expected to be operational by mid 2011.

Budget - The government of India is ready to make an investment of US$ 125.2 million.

Location - Tobat village, Balaraja district, Indonesia

Features - Construction of the hospital including the supply of hospital equipment.

Specifications Table: