First Residential One-Stop Health Centre in Perak

Perak will have its first ever community-based health centre providing a comprehensive range of services, encompassing a medical clinic, home nursing, rehabilitation and physiotherapy in a residential development, following the signing of collaboration agreement between KPJ Ipoh Specialist Hospital and Meru Valley Resort Berhad on Monday, August 15.

Yet another milestone at Meru Valley Resort, this health centre is part of a fully integrated project built within the premises of Meru Suites, a new five-storey apartment development of the Meru Valley EcoVillage. It will consist of consultation rooms, comfortable waiting areas and a full-fledged information kiosk with multi-skilled staff trained to deal with patients’ requirement.

The signatories were Mohd Nasir Mohamed, senior general manager for group business operations of KPJ Healthcare Berhad cum executive director of KPJ Ipoh Specialist Hospital and Dato’ Lim Si Boon, director of Meru Valley Resort Berhad. The signing ceremony was witnessed by Dato’ Dr Mah Hang Soon, the Executive Councillor for Health, Public Transport, Non-Islamic Affairs, National Integration and New Villages.

Also present were Dato’ Amiruddin Abdul Satar, president and managing director of KPJ Healthcare Berhad cum chairman of KPJ Ipoh Specialist Hospital, Haji Ahmad Nasirruddin Harun, senior general manager for group education and strategic support services of KPJ Healthcare Berhad cum deputy chairman of KPJ Ipoh Specialist Hospital and Shahzan Bahari Shamsul Bahari, director of Meru Valley Resort.

“I think it’s a first of its kind in Malaysia. I am truly impressed. Coming from the system, I am fully confident that, no doubt, KPJ is and will be able to give top level health services to the residents and people in Meru,” stated Mah during the press conference.

“Regarding the investment we have put in, infrastructure-wise, for the health centre is about half a million ringgit. For the specialised gym, it’s about another RM400,000. The wellness phase, we are talking about another quarter of a million ringgit. Overall, this whole concept is costing us over a million ringgit. Working with KPJ, the quality is assured and the price is actually fixed as per all their outlets and hospitals. People can be comforted that they are not going to be taken for a ride,” Lim explained.

The gym is equipped with HUR equipment, a world leading company specialising in senior exercise, rehabilitation and wellness. The pneumatic technology and smart-computerised system replaces conventional weights in the equipment which is crucial for more efficient, safer exercise for people of all ages and abilities, thus perfect for senior exercise and rehabilitation.

“It is half the price of what it costs for the treatments in Kuala Lumpur. From KL, you can take the train down to Ipoh, Uber to Meru, have your treatment and still afford to have a bowl of kuey teow (flat rice noodle)! And you have a better time,” Lim added.

“Another advantage is that this initiative is also an excellent boost for Perak’s Malaysia My 2nd Home programme as we have been made to understand that expatriates also reside here as well as seasonal tourists mainly from Japan,” Haji Ahmad Nasirruddin Harun said in his speech.

Celebrating silver jubilee this year, Meru Valley Resort completed its five-storey apartments containing 84 units (out of which 48 units are available for rental) within the EcoVillage four months ahead of schedule. Embellished with 527 sq ft one-bedroom and 732 sq ft two-bedroom suites complete with hotel room amenities, its services include transportation arrangement, airport transfer, food delivery and security. Plus, it is right smack in the middle of the only five-star golf course in Perak with a stunning panoramic view of the Kledang Saiong Mountain Range.

The EcoVillage also features 34 units of single storey villas and 48 units of townhouses. All the homes were designed with the senior community in mind.

“Seeking medical attention is now closer to home! Once successful, we hope to replicate this EcoVillage concept across Malaysia. We actually have a project in the pipeline in Hulu Ampang based on this. We hope within the next three years we would have a second one in the Klang Valley,” Lim concluded.

Clinic opening hours: Mondays to Fridays – 9am to 5pm, Saturdays – 9am to 1pm (will be extended in the future). Tel: 05 529 3353.