The hospital has since suspended operations

 

[SINGAPORE] OUE Healthcare : 5WA -8% announced that the Mandalay hospital building of Pun Hlaing Hospitals, in which it owns a 40 per cent stake, sustained damage after the massive earthquake that struck South-east Asia on Mar 28. 

 

The damaged hospital in the city of Mandalay in Myanmar has since suspended operations. The company said that there have been no reported casualties based on the information it has received.  

 

The healthcare group said in a bourse filing that the management of Pun Hlaing Hospitals has conducted a preliminary inspection following the earthquake, and confirmed that the hospital building in Mandalay had sustained some physical damage. 

 

OUE Healthcare holds a 40 per cent stake in the joint venture companies that own, operate and manage Pun Hlaing Hospitals located in the Myanmar cities of Yangon, Mandalay and Taunggyi. 

 

The hospital buildings in Yangon and Taunggyi were largely unaffected, the group said. They remain in operation despite being affected by an electricity shortage. 

 

As communications have been &ldquo severely hampered&rdquo in the aftermath of the quake, given the extensive damage wrought in Mandalay, the group said it would only be able to ascertain the full extent of the impact of the hospital&rsquo s damage after more detailed assessments. 

 

It added that it will continue to monitor the situation and provide further updates as appropriate. 

 

The powerful earthquake that struck Myanmar in the early afternoon on Friday had its epicentre close to the city of Mandalay in the country. 

 

With an initial 7.7 magnitude followed minutes later by a 6.7 magnitude aftershock, its tremors devastated infrastructure and resulted in thousands of casualties. 

 

One of the strongest earthquakes to hit the South-east Asian nation in a century, it comes as the country has been ravaged by around four years of civil war under junta rule. 

 

The earthquake also affected neighbouring countries of Vietnam and Thailand, and caused a skyscraper under construction in Bangkok to collapse.

OUE Healthcare, the healthcare subsidiary of OUE Limited, announced that its joint venture hospital with the China Merchants Group, Changshu China Merchants &ndash Lippo Obstetrics & Gynaecology Hospital (Changshu Hospital) in Changshu, Jiangsu Province, China, signed a strategic partnership agreement with Zhongda Hospital Southeast University, a renowned public Grade 3A General Hospital in Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, China.

 

Following the strategic partnership formed with Shanghai Changzheng Hospital, this collaboration marks another milestone for Changshu Hospital to integrate with top-tier public healthcare resources in delivering clinical excellence for its patients.

 

Changshu Hospital is the first and only private Obstetrics and Gynaecology (O& G) hospital in Changshu city, which provides premium obstetrics, gynaecology, paediatric and other related medical services. Zhongda Hospital is renowned for its critical care medicine, image guided intervention services (minimally invasive surgeries) and integrated medicine.

 

This strategic partnership encompasses collaboration across various areas, including scientific research, education, nursing, continuing education and management. Specifically, it will establish a two-way green channel for patient access between Zhongda Hospital and Changshu Hospital, facilitate cross-referrals and contribute to the development of advanced clinical services in Changshu Hospital.

 

Stephen Riady, executive chairman and group CEO of OUE says: &ldquo This collaboration will enhance Changshu Hospital&rsquo s medical service offerings, and provide Changshu residents with more accessible and higher quality healthcare services.&rdquo

 

Yet Kum Meng, CEO of OUE Healthcare says: &ldquo By integrating Zhongda Hospital' s cutting-edge medical expertise and Singapore&rsquo s patient care framework, we are committed to supporting Changshu Hospital in delivering sustainable, patient-centred healthcare services that align with China&rsquo s healthcare reform priorities.&rdquo

OUE Healthcare says its subsidiary, O2 Healthcare Group, has acquired a 60% stake in Rehab Matters Private Limited, according to a Dec 19 release. 

 

Rehab Matters, a physiotherapy provider, specialises in medical-directed fitness and cardiopulmonary rehabilitation. The group comprises one specialist rehabilitation centre and one medical fitness centre, Heart and Lung Physio in Royal Square Medical Centre and another medical fitness centre, Vigor in Guthrie House.

 

According to the group, the acquisition is expected to strengthen O2 Healthcare Group&rsquo s ability to address increasing healthcare needs through the integration of specialised physiotherapy care into its established lung health services.

 

The synergy between the two organisations will help to deliver enhanced cardiopulmonary care by providing patients with access to both specialist medical care and evidence-based physiotherapy treatments, adds OUE Healthcare. 

 

The collaboration is set to ensure a more effective rehabilitation process for patients recovering from conditions such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), asthma, heart failure, and post-cardiothoracic surgery. 

 

Under the collaboration, the acquisition will include the expansion of Rehab Matter&rsquo s Vigor initiative, which targets both the prevention and improvement of chronic medical conditions for adults of all ages. 

 

Jaclyn Chow, co-founder of Rehab Matters, says: &ldquo We are excited to join O2 Healthcare Group and extend our services to a wider community. Our Vigor (medical fitness centre) initiative, which promotes healthy living and preventive care, aligns perfectly with O2 Healthcare&rsquo s vision of delivering comprehensive, patient-centred healthcare.&rdquo

 

Gershu Paul, CEO of O2 Healthcare Group, adds: &ldquo O2 Healthcare Group is committed to meeting the growing healthcare needs of Singapore&rsquo s aging population. This partnership to provide medical fitness and cardiopulmonary physiotherapy allows us to deepen the breadth of our service offerings, combining both advanced medical treatment and holistic rehabilitation care. Together with Rehab Matters, we aim to foster a culture of active living, personalised and preventive healthcare, improving the quality of life for our patients.&rdquo

Under the accord, the two hospitals will have a &lsquo two-way green channel access&rsquo for patients

 

CATALIST-LISTED OUE Healthcare : 5WA 0%, through its joint venture hospital in Changshu, China, has signed a healthcare alliance agreement with a hospital in Shanghai.

 

The hospital, Shanghai Changzheng Hospital, is a public Grade 3A general hospital &ndash the highest of China&rsquo s three-tier grading system for public hospitals &ndash under military jurisdiction. 

 

Meanwhile, OUE&rsquo s Changshu Hospital is the first and only private obstetrics and gynaecology (O& G) hospital in Changshu, Jiangsu province in eastern China. On top of O& G, the 100-bed hospital provides paediatric and other related medical services.

 

Under the agreement, the two hospitals will have a &ldquo two-way green channel access&rdquo for patients. This means that OUE&rsquo s Changshu Hospital will be able to host specialists from Shanghai Changzheng Hospital, who can then practise officially in Changshu Hospital, said the healthcare group in a Monday (Oct 7) press statement. 

 

Staff members from Changshu Hospital will also have the opportunity to attend training courses in Shanghai Changzheng Hospital, it said. The tie-up will also let OUE&rsquo s hospital access a new market segment, comprising military personnel and their family members. 

 

The group&rsquo s chief executive officer Yet Kum Meng believes the healthcare alliance agreement between the two hospitals is testament to the quality and public confidence in the healthcare services offered by OUE. 

 

&ldquo This win-win collaboration through sharing of medical resources between public and private hospitals will enable us to better serve the needs of our patients,&rdquo he said.