One-stop centre for women’s health opens

ASSUNTA Hospital, which marks its 70th anniversary this year, has seen generations of mothers walk through its doors and babies being delivered, with each of the latter being affectionately nicknamed an ABC – “Assunta-born child”.

“We have also had doctors who were born at this hospital and are now working here as specialists, as well as doctors from two generations of the same family working here – such as father and son pairs,” said Assunta Hospital chief executive officer Wilson Choo.

“We are probably the only private hospital in Malaysia that can boast of having three generations in a family born here,” said Dr Kuharaj Balasubramaniam.

He attributed this to the hospital’s history as a maternity home before becoming a full-fledged medical facility.

“Obstetrics and gynaecology is part of Assunta’s core services and having a dedicated centre is, in a way, honouring the hospital’s legacy,” said Dr Kuharaj, who is one of six consultant obstetricians and gynaecologists at the hospital located on Jalan Templer, Petaling Jaya.

Choo (right) accompanying Jamaliah on a tour of the hospital’s medical facilities.

“In spite of it being an old building, the hospital’s technology is state-of-the-art as these are tools for doctors to improve patient care,” he added.

Choo and Dr Kuharaj were speaking after the opening ceremony of Assunta Hospital’s Obstetrics and Gynaecology Centre by Selangor public health and environment committee chairman Jamaliah Jamaluddin.

It is designed to be a one-stop centre for women’s health, with designated parking, registration, consultations, lab tests, medicine collection, and payment being on the same floor.

“This approach reflects our dedication to providing not only medical services but also a compassionate and patient-centric environment at the hospital.

“Embracing technology is vital in upholding our legacy and keeping abreast with the latest in the medical technology needed for diagnoses,” said Choo.

“These advancements show our commitment in providing the highest standard of care while ensuring accurate diagnostics and monitoring for expectant mothers and gynaecological patients,” he said.

He added that the hospital had also invested in other equipment to precisely evaluate and diagnose cardiac disorders.

“As a not-for-profit institution, Assunta Hospital upholds the principles of social entrepreneurship, ensuring our healthcare services remain affordable for our patients,” said Choo.

“Our charges are subsidised to make healthcare services affordable to all our patients, while half of our hospital’s profits are invested into expanding our facilities, acquiring equipment, and technology.”

He said the remaining half of the hospital’s profit was channelled through Assunta Integrated Social Services (Assiss) to provide medical care to the underprivileged.

Jamaliah said the centre was a significant stride towards ensuring the health and well-being of women.

She added that the B40 community in her Bandar Utama constituency was one of the beneficiaries of a mobile clinic initiative by Assiss.

The mobile clinic offered basic primary care comprising health consultations and monitoring of medical conditions for underprivileged groups.

There are presently 48 mobile clinics per month in the Klang Valley.

Assiss offered eight programmes, including palliative services, wound care services, stroke ancillary programme, pastoral care as well as social welfare programmes.