INVESTMENTS and new developments must go beyond economic figures by creating meaningful benefits for the people, says Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow.
He said whenever he is invited to visit a factory, business or hospital, he always asks himself one question: how does this benefit ordinary Penangites?
“Every investment must create real spillover benefits – good jobs, opportunities for local businesses, stronger economic activity and better livelihoods. That is how we measure success,” Chow said during his first visit to Northern Heart Hospital Penang at Peel Avenue today.
He said he was pleased to learn about the hospital’s corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiative last year, which provided free Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (PCI) procedures to three B40 patients.
“This is healthcare making a real difference. I hope this spirit of giving back will continue because access to quality healthcare should never depend solely on one’s financial means,” he said.
Chow also noted that about half of the hospital’s 235 active employees are Penangites.
“This is the kind of local participation we want to see, where quality investments create quality jobs for our own people,” he said.
He said Penang now contributes 45 per cent of Malaysia’s total medical tourism revenue, reaffirming its position as the nation’s leading medical tourism destination. More than half a million international patients chose Penang last year, generating over RM1 billion in medical tourism revenue for the state.
He added that a hospital contributes far beyond patient treatment, as it creates quality employment opportunities for healthcare professionals and skilled workers, supports local suppliers and SMEs, and generates business for hotels, restaurants, transport providers and other related sectors.
Present to welcome Chow were the hospital’s chief executive officer Kelen Leong Choy Fun, general manager Katrina Felix, person-in-charge Dr Tan Chiang Soo, senior consultant cardiothoracic surgeon Prof Datuk Dr Basheer Ahamed Abdul Kareem, and hospital staff members.
Leong said the hospital was honoured by Chow’s visit, which provided a valuable opportunity for the team to showcase its facilities, dedicated healthcare professionals and vision for contributing to Penang’s healthcare ecosystem.
“At Northern Heart Hospital Penang, our mission is to provide world-class cardiovascular care through clinical excellence, innovation, compassion, and patient-centred services. Since our establishment, we have remained dedicated to delivering high-quality cardiac care while embracing the latest medical technologies and evidence-based practices,” she said.
She said the hospital is proud to be part of the state’s efforts in strengthening specialised healthcare services and positioning Penang as a leading regional destination for medical excellence.
“None of these achievements would be possible without the unwavering dedication of our doctors, nurses, allied health professionals, and support staff. Their passion, professionalism, and commitment to patient care are the foundation of everything we do,” she said.
Dr Tan said the hospital plans to provide free PCI procedures to five B40 patients this year, with all cases recommended by Penang Hospital to the state Executive Councillor for Youth, Sports and Health, Daniel Gooi. Each procedure may cost more than RM50,000.
He said the establishment of Northern Heart Hospital Penang came about when several medical practitioners decided to pool their expertise to provide specialised healthcare services, as Penang has a strong pool of talented specialists.
“We have performed complex surgeries, and we know we can do it here with our teamwork for the patients, so they do not need to travel to Kuala Lumpur,” he said.
Chow was later taken on a tour of the facilities by the hospital’s top management team and briefed by outpatient health screening and dialysis manager Cindy Lee, along with other personnel.
During the tour, Chow also tried out an E-Bike, a stationary ergometer used for exercise stress tests. Only four hospitals in Malaysia are equipped with this machine, with two of them located in Penang.
Story by K.H. Ong
Pix by Law Suun Ting
Video by Alissala Thian