Far East Opening $8m Outpatient Clinic At Novena

Source : The Business Times, November 2, 2007

Project expected to break even within a year

FAR East Organization and a group of doctors are investing $8 million to set up a clinic called Novena Surgery, in response to what they say is an increasing need for outpatient surgery for Singaporeans and international patients.

Patients will be able to use touch-screen monitors in the wards to make requests from nurses.

Lim Beng Hai, director and senior consultant hand surgeon for the Centre for Hand and Reconstructive Microsurgery, Singapore, who is chairman of Novena Surgery, said that many local patients were opting for surgery as outpatients.

'This demand is augmented by the rising number of international patients seeking treatment in Singapore,' he said.

Novena Surgery, which takes up 8,000 sq ft, will be located on the eighth floor of the $257 million Novena Medical Center. It is expected to open its doors on March 1 next year.

It will be used by doctors practising at the centre and those from other hospitals, medical centres and clinics in the area.

Novena Surgery, which aims to provide ambulatory care and surgery facilities, will have three operating theatres and two endoscopy suites, with private rooms and common areas for patients to recover after surgery.

The facility will offer surgical specialties including eye surgery, ear-nose- throat and obstetrics and gynaecology. Surgeons can look forward to a concierge service, which will arrange for patients to be picked up and arrive on time for surgery.

Patients will be able to use touch-screen monitors in the wards to make requests from nurses, to access the Internet and to send e-mail.

The board of directors is expecting Novena Surgery to break even in the space of a year, and bring in annual revenues of more than $10 million after three years.

The number of cases per day could reach a maximum of 100, they said at a press conference.

Heah Sieu Min, who is on the board of directors, described Novena Surgery as a 'seamless, convenient service which will be value for money'.

GL Yap, executive director of Far East Organization, said that Far East would be interested in tendering a bid for the hospital site at Novena Terrace/Ir- rawaddy Road launched this week by the Urban Redevelopment Authority.