PETALING JAYA, FEB 8 – Beacon Hospital announced its RM1 million Petaling Jaya Radiotherapy Welfare Fund. The fund will benefit underprivileged residents of Petaling Jaya who have been diagnosed with cancer but can’t afford radiotherapy treatment.
“The Fund is an extension of our existing Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative to help the less privileged cancer patients. In 2011, we introduced our Beacon of Hope programme that provides funding for radiotherapy and Cyberknife radiosurgery and it is open to all deserving Malaysian citizens.” says Executive Director of Beacon Hospital, Dr. Chong Su-Lin.
Dr. Chong says more than RM8 million in financial aid has been channelled via the CSR programme to help ease the burden faced by many underprivileged cancer patients. The hospital has touched the lives of more than hundreds of people, patients and their families.
“The Radiotherapy Welfare Fund was introduced following the successful implementation of similar programs in Sabah & Sarawak in the past years and in conjunction with Beacon Hospital’s expansion. Beacon Hospital has more than 10 years’ track record in cancer care. In the recent 2 years, we have adds other medical and surgical specialty services” she adds.
Beacon Hospital’s Medical Director, Datuk Dr Mohamed Ibrahim says combating cancer and other long draw-out illnesses can be a tiring and often expensive journey for patients and their families. In addition to the trauma of a cancer diagnosis, it can be even more stressful when a patient is struggling to pay for costly treatments.
“In fact, many cancer patients that we encounter do not get proper treatment or simply give up hope due to high medical costs. And for those who struggle and are finally able to get treatment, some will be confronted with a serious financial problem due to high medical bills,” he adds.
“The PJ Radiotherapy Welfare Fund aims to reach out to deserving patients and provide necessary treatments. Not only will the Fund help to ease the financial burden for patients, it also acts as a platform to educate the public on cancer and how to cope with it. Our aim is to give HOPE to those in need,” he says.
Beacon Hospital’s expanded facilities and services include four operating theatres, six Intensive Care Unit beds as well as a one-stop Ophthalmology centre.
They are the only provider of Cyberknife radio-surgery services in Malaysia. With the addition of medical and surgical specialties such as Ophthalmology, Neurosurgery & Orthopaedics, as well as diagnostic services in nuclear medicine, Beacon is a provider of healthcare services to the PJ community as well as to the ASEAN region.
Beacon Hospital plans to open a new hospital with 200 beds in the next three years which cost around RM300 million. However, they have yet to finalise the site and the extension of services is not just for Beacon Hospital’s patients but open to all Malaysians, says Chief Executive Director, Victor Chia.