World Renowned Neurosurgeon to Provide Treatment Here

28-Mar-2010

“Malaysians can opt to receive high-end neurosurgical procedures locally”

Kuala Lumpur, 28 March 2010: World-class neurosurgical treatment is now within reach for Malaysians as renowned neurosurgeon, Professor Michael K. Morgan has agreed to collaborate with Gleneagles Hospital Kuala Lumpur. Professor Morgan, who has an impressive background in cerebrovascular surgery and research will provide high-end neurosurgical treatment here.

The collaboration was sealed today when Gleneagles Hospital Kuala Lumpur signed an agreement with Macquarie Neurosurgery, Australia that will allow Professor Morgan to work with the private healthcare provider.

Chief Executive Officer of Gleneagles Hospital Kuala Lumpur, Amir Firdaus Abdullah said the collaboration between the hospital and the highly specialised neurosurgical group, Macquarie Neurosurgery based at Macquarie University in Sydney, will allow Malaysians to seek cerebrovascular treatment including brain bypass surgery locally instead of travelling to Singapore or Australia.

“A neurosurgical procedure in Australia would easily cost from RM 700,000 to RM 1 million, and when done locally it will cost a fraction of that which is around RM 100, 000. At that particular value proposition, only a few would be able to afford treatment abroad, but now with this collaboration, more lives can be saved.”

In addition to that, Amir said the collaboration will be of huge benefit to Malaysians as there is a limitation in brain bypass surgery in the country.

“It is envisaged that such an agreement will fulfil this need. Patients who require surgery for stroke related complications, arteriovenous malformations and cerebral aneurysms are now able to receive immediate treatment here,” he said.

Professor Morgan, who is a senior examiner with the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons, said he was delighted with the agreement.

“I have been coming to Malaysia for the past 15 years to teach and conduct surgeries. It is my great pleasure to assist Malaysian surgeons and help the people of this great country,” he said. “We hope to expand the agreement to other disciplines.”

Acting Australian High Commissioner, His Excellency Mr Craig Chittick who witnessed the signing ceremony said this was an ideal partnership between two renowned healthcare institutions and signifies the close relationship between Malaysia and Australia.

“On a larger scale this partnership serves to strengthen the bilateral relationship that Malaysia and Australia have built in many areas. We hope that through this partnership between Gleneagles Hospital Kuala Lumpur and Macquarie Neurosurgery, both countries will benefit in the dynamic exchange of knowledge, technology transfer and skills in the area of neurosurgery.”

Amir added that Gleneagles Hospital Kuala Lumpur recently invested RM 2.5 million in top-notch neurosurgical equipment such as the Laser Navigational system to support the high-end and complex surgical procedures that Professor Morgan will be conducting here.

“We constantly benchmark ourselves with the best neurosurgical centres around the world and with that in mind; Gleneagles can pride itself with excellent neurosurgical settings. We have on board an esteemed team of highly experienced neurosurgeons and neurologists to provide complex neurosurgical procedures.”

As part of the collaboration, Amir said this agreement will also be of huge benefit for neurosurgeons to exchange knowledge and collaborate in technology transfer between Malaysia and Australia

“This partnership will provide important experiences, not only for Gleneagles Hospital Kuala Lumpur but also for our local neurosurgeons to further enhance the service provided in Malaysia.”

Amir added that the sharing experience does not end there. This coming November, during the 8th Asian Congress of Neurosurgical Surgeons, Professor Morgan will be conducting a live neurosurgical procedure which will be hosted by Gleneagles Hospital Kuala Lumpur. The surgery will be watched by neurosurgeons from across Asia.

“We believe that through this collaboration with Professor Morgan and Macquarie Neurosurgery, Malaysia and Gleneagles Hospital Kuala Lumpur will be at par with some of the best neurosurgical centres around the world. We are now on the map for high-end neurosurgical treatment.”

The agreement signing ceremony was witnessed by more than 150 neurosurgeons, neurologist and general physician who attended the hospital’s inaugural Neurovascular Symposium. The one-day symposium ended today.