Materia Medica Malaysiana

TH Group expands Nilai cancer centre

TH Group Bhd is strengthening its healthcare business by expanding its Nilai Cancer Institute (NCI), Malaysia’s first private specialist cancer centre.

Under the expansion plan, a new wing will be built and more cancer treatment facilities – including 30 beds, more radiotherapy equipment, two operating theatres, an intensive care unit, a research lab and a stem cell transplant unit – will be added.

TH Group said the expansion was in view of the great potential of the healthcare industry in the country.

The industry is currently valued at RM900 million and is expected to grow to RM1.2 billion by 2005.

“NCI is in a very unique position in the industry. Due to our status as one of the leading centres for cancer clinical trial, we are able to offer patients who do not respond to standard treatment the opportunity of participating in new therapy,” it said in a statement.

It said the healthcare sector was identified as the company’s fourth core business because it presented high-growth opportunities and was relatively unaffected by economic conditions.

The first three core businesses of the company are oil palm plantations, construction and software development.

“Cash flow generated from our plantation sector will initially grow the healthcare sector, which is expected to eventually mitigate the cyclical nature of our traditional businesses,” it said.