Starting families without breaking the bank

 

Ohana Hospital has a full scale nursery comparable to those found at larger private facilities.

PETALING JAYA: Named after the Hawaiian term for “family”, it’s only natural that Ohana Hospital focuses on helping Malaysians start theirs without breaking the bank.

Earmarked and announced for acquisition by Ipmuda Bhd, this specialist maternity and early childhood facility hopes to bridge the gap between the cheap – but often crowded – public sector and relatively steeply priced private hospitals.

The company’s healthcare arm aims to provide affordable, personalised private healthcare to the growing but underserved middle-income segment. This is particularly important as public healthcare continues to face challenges arising from the global pandemic.

Boasting more than 70 experienced doctors and nurses who are almost entirely female, Ohana aims to provide a comfortable and safe environment for new and expecting mothers on par with what’s offered elsewhere, but at an affordable price point.

With fewer patients to tend to, services can be tailored for individual families’ needs to provide personalised care.

Non-executive board member of Ipmuda Bhd, Amiruddin Abdul Satar, formerly president of the KPJ group, told FMT that despite offering maternity services at a fraction of the cost charged by bigger private facilities, the quality delivered at Ohana is nearly indistinguishable.

“I would say that Ohana’s maternity services are similar or comparable to maternity services available in all other big hospitals.

“With Ohana, or any smaller maternity hospital which offers affordable delivery services, you can attract a bigger segment of the market because not everybody can afford to go to a big private hospital for maternity services.”

He said this is especially important given that many people must pay for maternity services out of pocket.

“If you look at most employers, most insurance companies will not cover maternity.

“Most deliveries are paid in cash, whether you go to a big hospital or come to small hospitals. Some people may not be able to afford delivery, especially caesarean deliveries, in a big hospital.”

Amiruddin also dispelled the notion that “shoplot hospitals” like Ohana offer inferior services or lack suitable equipment.

“That may have been true 10, 20 years ago, but now the government is very strict in issuing licences for private hospitals and they make sure that all facilities big or small comply with the regulations, comply with the guidelines they have stipulated.

“I would argue that in big or small hospitals, the standard of care and the standard of facilities is similar, the only thing is that you see more services in bigger hospitals, whereas in a smaller hospital they tend to be more focused.”

Located strategically in the heart of Seri Rampai, Kuala Lumpur, near matured residential areas with growing populations, Ohana offers a full range of services for parents, such as pre-natal classes and fertility treatments, as well as options for post-delivery like vaccinations, circumcisions and toddler care.

There is also a full service nursery onsite, comparable to those offered in larger and more expensive hospitals.

The hospital also boasts spacious rooms to ensure the comfort of patients, fitted with amenities like a fridge, private bathroom, air-conditioning and wifi-connectivity.

Aside from maternity and early childcare, the hospital also caters to general accident and emergency cases.

While Ipmuda is focusing on maternity and early childcare for now, the company is not ruling out expanding into other areas of specialisation down the line. - FMT