Singapore, 1 November, 2007 – Far East Organization has partnered a group of well established doctors from various disciplines to set up Novena Surgery, a surgery facility, at its $257 million Novena Medical Center above the Novena MRT Station. Occupying an area of about 8,000 sqft, Novena Surgery is expected to be operational by the first quarter of 2008.

On the set up of Novena Surgery at Novena Medical Center, Director and Senior Consultant Hand Surgeon for the Centre for Hand and Reconstructive Microsurgery, Singapore as well as Chairman of Novena Surgery, Adjunct Associate Professor Lim Beng Hai says, “Health care provision is changing. With new surgical, anaesthetic and analgesic techniques continuously being introduced, the potential for expanding outpatient surgery is growing. Many well informed local patients who need surgery and are able to recover at home are also increasingly making a conscious choice to opt for outpatient surgery. This demand is augmented by the rising number of international patients seeking treatment in Singapore. They are especially suited to outpatient surgery as treatment is simple and quick and recovery is fast. To meet this need, we will have a team of specialists and resident medical officers at Novena Surgery to manage the medical care of our patients before, during, and after surgery.”

Far East Organization’s Executive Director (Property Services), Mr G L Yap, believes that Novena Surgery will provide an important facility for the medical centre and Far East Organization can play an essential role in the establishment of such a facility. “The establishment of Novena Surgery is to provide ambulatory care and surgery facilities. This requires significant organization, financial commitment and knowledge of specialized requirements for Novena Surgery to be a success. Far East Organization’s role as a shareholding partner is to assist with corporate organizational requirements and financial support.”

The total investment for Novena Surgery is about $8 million. Situated on the eighth floor of Novena Medical Center, it will have 3 operating theatres and 2 endoscopy suites available for use, as well as private rooms and common areas for patients to recover after surgery.

Novena Surgery is fully fitted out with state-of-the art facilities and equipment. One of which that will be a first in Singapore is the European designed modular operating theatres that can be reconfigured according to the needs of the patients and doctors. Others include endoscopic and arthroscopic equipment with high definition cameras, and wards with monitors which utilise the touch screen technology where patients can use it to make requests from nurses, access the internet, and send and receive e mails. The latter will provide patients with the therapeutic benefit of being able to keep in touch with friends and family.

Describing the softer services provided by Novena Surgery, Adjunct Associate Professor Lim remarks, “For surgeons using our facilities in Novena Surgery, our patient/surgeon executives will ensure that the surgeons have a smooth ride to the Surgery so that they do not have the hassle of dealing with traffic and waste precious time parking the car. This will ensure that the doctors arrive on time stress-free to perform surgery. For patients, our 24 hour call centre manned by resident medical officers will give appropriate advice and provide direct referral to sub-specialty doctors so as to address their needs.”

“Moreover, the location of Novena Medical Center is also just right for our patients. It has the three major requirements most desired by patients: accessibility to transportation network, accessibility to accommodation at the upcoming hotel next to Novena Medical Center and accessibility to lifestyle services nearby,” adds Adjunct Associate Professor Lim.

Novena Surgery has the capability to offer a range of surgical specialties like endoscopy, eye surgery, ear-nose-throat, hand surgery, orthopaedic, obstetrics and gynaecology, reconstructive surgery and aesthetic.

Novena Surgery can be used by doctors practicing at Novena Medical Center as well as those from nearby hospitals, medical centres and clinics.

Novena Medical Center has enjoyed a take-up rate of more than 90% of the 108 medical suites released for sale. The remaining 36 units on the eighth floor of the medical center are set aside for lease. This is to allow for future expansion of facilities and services to support the requirements of Novena Medical Center’s medical specialists. With a 6,000 sq ft radiology clinic run by Parkway Holdings, the leading radiology and imaging provider in Singapore, and Novena Surgery taking up about 8,000 sq ft, the majority of the space has been leased. Novena Medical Center has 145 well designed and efficiently configured medical suites located over four levels. It is integrated into a commercial development that has over 200 trendy retail outlets, cafes and restaurants. It has immediate passage into the Novena MRT station. Novena Medical Center has a direct airconditioned link-bridge with travellators on its third level connecting to Tan Tock Seng Hospital.

Issued by Far East Organization

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