In Seremban, Negri Sembilan, two private hospitals, CMH Specialist Hospital and Mawar Medical Centre (MMC), have experienced a significant turnaround from being heavily in debt and on the verge of closure a few years ago. Both hospitals were recently recognized at the BrandLaureate Best Brands Awards 2022-23 ceremony held in Kuala Lumpur. CMH Specialist Hospital, previously known as the Negri Sembilan Chinese Maternity Hospital, received the Iconic Brand award in the Community Hospital category, while MMC, formerly known as Mawar Haemodialysis Centre, received the Best Choice award in the Healthcare – Private Hospital category. The event is organized by The World Brands Foundation.
The turnaround of both hospitals is attributed to property developer and philanthropist Datuk Seri Lee Tian Hock, who provided financial assistance to revive them. Lee serves as the chairman of the Negri Sembilan Chinese Maternity Association (NSCMA) and Mawar Haemodialysis Centre (MHC), which respectively own CMH Specialist Hospital and MMC. The corporate restructuring exercise enabled CMH Specialist Hospital to operate independently without relying on public donations. CMH Specialist Hospital CEO Henderic Koo Teck Leng expressed his team’s commitment to providing quality medical care and assistance to vulnerable groups. Additionally, the hospital plans to expand its services by increasing the number of beds to 150 and acquiring advanced medical equipment.
Under the leadership of Lee’s team, MMC has transformed into a specialist facility known for its high-quality services. The hospital received the ISO 9001:2015 certification in 2021 and has recruited new specialist consultants in various fields. Dr. Ong Chiew Ping, CEO of Mawar Medical Centre, highlighted the improved efficiency of the hospital’s operations due to the implementation of an integrated hospital information system.
In November 2013, the NSCMH Medical Centre faced an order to not accept new in-patients due to the absence of a resident specialist and several violations of the Private Healthcare and Facilities Act. Lee provided RM17mil to save the hospital. Similarly, in early 2019, MMC was ordered to cease operations after the resignations of most specialists. Lee invested RM6mil to rescue the hospital and took over its management.
Both CMH Specialist Hospital and Mawar Medical Centre have reported profits in recent years, a portion of which is used for charitable and educational purposes.
Credit: The Star : Metro Feed
