Page 26 - Berita Sunway - Issue 74

CSR
Impacting the Community rough
Heal care government hospitals have had treatments delayed

INCREASING ACCESS
TO HEALTHCARE IN
A PANDEMIC
During the pandemic, non-COVID patients at

due to COVID-19 cases being prioritised. As such,
Sunway Medical Centre Velocity (SMCV) has
offered referred patients from government hospitals
SAVING LIVES, discounted rates of up to 40% for treatments
Jan (not her real name) was at her wit’s end. ONE HEART AT A TIME throughout 2021.
“We believe that every individual should have
A single mother with two daughters aged 17 and 12, Jan access to affordable healthcare, so they are able to live
could not work due to her Stage IV cancer condition. To According to the Ministry of Health Malaysia, about one in every their lives to the fullest. is initiative will provide us
make matters worse, she also suffered from brain metastases 100 newborn babies in the country suffer from congenital heart with the opportunity to make private healthcare
– the cancer had spread to her brain – so much so that her disease or congenital heart defects – problems with the heart structure. To date, eight successful more accessible and reduce the patients’ waiting time
oncologist at a private hospital had given up on her. One such baby was Muhammad Iman, who was diagnosed with kidney transplants have taken in receiving critical care for their conditions,” said
Fortunately, Jan’s neurosurgeon believed there was still hope for her, Large Patent Ductus Arteriosus (PDA), in addition to Down Syndrome place at the hospital since SMCV chief executive officer, Derrick Chan.
referring her to see Sunway Medical Centre’s oncologist Dr. John Low. and respiratory distress syndrome. Non-COVID patients should seek early medical
At Sunway Medical Centre, Jan underwent her second gamma “Since he was born, my baby only spent 14 days at home; the rest the procedure was introduced assistance when experiencing symptoms to avoid
knife treatment – a computer-guided treatment that delivers highly were spent in the hospital due to his deteriorating health conditions a year ago – four of which further complications, according to SMCV’s medical
focused radiation to tumours and lesions in the brain – in January then. ose days were so challenging for us,” said Iman’s mother, director and emergency physician Dr. Wee Tong Ming.
2019 with a 30% discount. Mazilawati Abdullah. were under Sunway Medical “We would like to encourage those in need of
is was followed by her second stereotactic body radiation A beneficiary of the Sunway Medical Centre’s partnership with Centre’s CSR initiatives. medical aid to not delay in reaching out to us. We want
therapy treatment in March 2020 with a 50% discount. Jan was the Media Prima-NSTP Humanitarian Fund, Iman was able to to ensure that every patient is able to receive
also granted a 30% discount for her whole brain radiation therapy undergo cardiac surgery at the hospital. the treatment they deserve, without
treatment in September 2020. “His heart was swollen due to heart failure and required having to put a strain on their
Today, Jan’s condition is stable, as she immediate surgery. His Down Syndrome condition added to the risk of financial conditions. Patients will
maintains oral treatment for her cancer and heart complications. Post-surgery, we monitored him in the Intensive A SECOND CHANCE AT A NORMAL LIFE have full access to our hospital
continues follow-up visits to her doctor. Care Unit (ICU) for his heart and lungs to show improvement. I’m As an active person who jogs, practises qi gong, and goes to the gym services and multidisciplinary
Jan’s case at Sunway Cancer glad he recovered very well,” said Sunway Medical Centre’s consultant regularly, Andrew (not his real name) never imagined he would suffer teams according to their needs –
Centre is part of Sunway paediatrician and paediatric cardiologist Dr. Ang Hak Lee. from kidney failure. from cardiology and neurology
Healthcare’s CSR efforts, reflecting “We’ll never be able to thank each and every one of you for your Obtaining medication at a pharmacy for a headache, Andrew soon to paediatric services,” said Dr.
its alignment to the United Nations kindness and generous contribution that has helped my son to live a discovered he had high blood pressure. Paying a visit to Sunway Medical Wee.
Sustainable Development Goal 3, normal life,” said Mohamad Tarmizi Chin Abdullah, Iman’s father. Centre’s consultant nephrologist Dr. Ng Eng Khim, Andrew realised
which is to ensure healthy lives and To date, a total of nine newborns were beneficiaries of life-saving that he had ignored some telltale signs of kidney failure – bubbles in his
to promote wellbeing for all, at all paediatric cardiac surgeries under Sunway Medical Centre’s CSR initiative. urine and swollen legs.
ages. While undergoing dialysis treatment, Andrew explored the option of
With the aim of assisting patients who cannot afford radiotherapy having a kidney transplant after consulting with Dr. Ng and Dr. Rosnawati
treatment at private hospitals, Sunway Cancer Centre offers a 50% Yahya, another consultant nephrologist at Sunway Medical Centre. Derrick Chan
government referral discount, a special package for Ministry of Health With his younger brother as a willing and suitable donor, Andrew Chief executive officer of
and Ministry of Education patients. Meanwhile, there is also a To date, a total of nine successfully underwent the hospital’s first kidney transplant Sunway Medical Centre Velocity
discounted rate for SPECT-CT and CT scans at the Sunway Cancer newborns were beneficiaries surgery in June 2020.
Centre for patients with government referral. “I am blessed to have a fast recovery and now I have
Since the introduction of these packages in 2019, 100 patients of life-saving paediatric a whole new motivation for life. My advice is to not
have benefited from this CSR initiative. cardiac surgeries under hesitate to undergo a transplant. It has given me a
In 2021, Sunway Cancer Centre patients have benefitted from a second chance at life,” Andrew said.
total of RM400,000 fee discounts, up until June 2021. Sunway Medical Centre’s To date, eight successful kidney transplants have taken
CSR initiative. place at the hospital since the procedure was introduced two
years ago – four of which were under Sunway Medical Centre’s
CSR initiatives.

24