YANGON: National Healthcare System Co Ltd (N Health), a healthcare business unit under Bangkok Dusit Medical Services Plc (BDMS), launched a medical laboratory in Yangon on Monday with local partners to tap growing opportunities there.
"This investment in Myanmar is a major step for N Health as we plan to add more branches across the region, including Cambodia. After this we have plans to expand N Health medical laboratory centres in Indonesia and the Philippines," said Narong Galaputh, chief executive of BDMS's non-hospital group.
"Our intentions are to reach more consumers and help them use preventive care for their health." Mr Narong is also the managing director of N Health.
N Health's annual revenue was US$90 million last year, a 25% increase year-on-year, thanks to business expansion.
In Thailand, the company provides system services and products supporting the hospital business such as diagnostic testing, biomedical engineering, sterile processing, hospital linen management, telemedicine and medical equipment supplies.
In Myanmar, the company will focus on operating the medical laboratory.
N Health joined with two local healthcare companies -- Bahosi Hospital and Sea Lion Group -- to register N Health Myanmar in 2015. The company is the first private medical lab licensed by the Myanmar government, said N Health.
The lab aims to support large hospitals for high-end genetic tests, allergy tests and evaluations for tuberculosis, malaria and dengue fever. It also aims to provide standard analytical services including medical check-ups for small and medium-sized hospitals as well as walk-in customers.
The investment for the laboratory is $2.5 million. N Health covered 60% of the cost, while the two local partners each covered 20%. N Health Myanmar plans to open another laboratory in Mandalay in the near future.
"We expect to see growth rise in leaps and bounds in the next three to five years, driven by policy changes. Since the civilian government started in 2011, health expenditures have risen over 10 times and this is just the beginning," said Dr Win Zaw Aung, managing director of Sea Lion Group, a medical equipment supplier.