Construction complete on Raffles Hospital Shanghai
Singapore’s Raffles Medical Group plans to expand in first-tier cities by opening more hospitals and medical centers in collaboration with local partners.
Raffles Hospital Shanghai, in Qiantan International Business District of the China (Shanghai) Pilot Free Trade Zone, will be the group’s second tertiary hospital after one in Chongqing went into operation in January.
“We will not stop at only two hospitals and we'll be looking at potential locations in first-tier cities,” said Loo Choon Yong, executive chairman of the group, noting that in these cities more patients can afford high-end medical services.
A joint venture between Raffles and Shanghai Lujiazui Group, the 12-story main building of the hospital was completed on May 24 and is expected to open in the first quarter of next year.
The medical group also has clinics in seven cities in China, including Nanjing, Shenzhen, Tianjin and Hong Kong.
Loo told Shanghai Daily that the company is learning from its experience in the Chongqing hospital and, thanks to its clinic in Shanghai since 2010, business at the Shanghai hospital will take off soon.
“We will welcome patients from Shanghai's public hospitals and will also discuss with the local government the possibilities of using public medical insurance for some services,” he added.
He also sees a potential for collaboration between Raffles’ hospitals and local research institutions. Raffles already has the capability to carry out multi-center trials through its sites in Singapore and local partners.
“There’s a chance we can form a consortium with local partners and carry out even wider research.”
He also said that it is important to look for the best way for patients to get the right treatment whether at community treatment centers or tertiary hospitals.
