PRESS RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE PUBLICATION    TROPICANA MEDICAL CENTRE LAUNCHES ITS ENT, HEAD & NECK LASER CENTRE    Application of CO2laser technology to improve ENT, Head & Neck surgery with superior clinical outcomes 28th February 2013, Petaling Jaya – In line with government’s agenda to provide advance equipments, latest technology and improve patient care, Tropicana Medical Centre (TMC) today announced the launch of its ENT, Head & Neck Laser Centre. The first-of-its-kind ENT Laser Centre in the Malaysia’s private healthcare setting focuses on the application of CO2 laser technology for precise ENT, Head & Neck surgeries, improves patient care with superior clinical outcomes, fewer complications, reduced pain and faster recovery. The launch of the Centre was officiated by Dr Mary Wong, the Chief Executive Officer of the Malaysia Healthcare Travel Council. Commenting on Malaysia’s growing health sector at the launch, she said, “I am proud to witness another milestone along our journey to position Malaysia as one of the most preferred destinations for quality and advanced healthcare solutions, which includes infrastructure, talent and technology.  I understand this is the first ENT, Head and Neck Laser Centre amongst private hospitals which will be promising in terms of attracting local, regional as well as international patients.  Contemporary medical solutions such as CO2laser technology will go a long way into establishing the capabilities of our healthcare sector towards delivering high standards and best-in-class medical treatments. This will increasingly play a crucial role in tapping the potential of healthcare travel.” According to Dr. Wong, in 2011 Malaysia received over 664,000 patients, a ten-fold increase over the last decade. The number is expected to grow as Malaysia strives to strengthen its ground and position its quality healthcare services. With a proven track record of more than 3000 successful laser surgery cases, the newly launched Centre aims to be the referral hub for local, regional and international patients seeking treatment for ENT, Head & Neck conditions. Prominent Consultant ENT, Head & Neck Surgeon Dr Balachandran Appoo, believes it is important to harness advance technologies to perform surgeries that ensure higher success rate. In addition, laser usage has added advantage and clinically proven benefits including reduction allergic rhinitis to about 70% - 80% and common symptoms such as sneezing, itchy nose and postal nasal drip, decrease or disappear after the laser surgery. Adding to that, he said the TMC ENT, Head & Neck Laser Centre has been equipped with latest applications such as CO2laser technology, as it entails less destructive process to the nearby tissues compared to conventional surgery. The CO2laser system is equipped with articulated arms for free-beam laser delivery, which are designed for excision, incision, vaporization and ablation of soft tissues.  Commenting on the laser surgery, he said, “This laser system can be used by the surgeon to work from a distance and operate narrow nasal structure without damaging tissues or causing excessive bleeding. With the added advantages of this technique, such as minimal risk of infection, less pain and bleeding, CO2laser system enables higher success rate and quicker recovery compared to the conventional method.” Being a multidisciplinary tertiary care hospital, Tropicana Medical Centre (TMC) endeavors to positively contribute towards positioning Malaysia as a regional centre of healthcare excellence with its latest Centre. Ms Erica Lam, the Chief Executive Officer of TMCsaid, “In continuing our efforts to deliver best-in-class healthcare services, we encourage our Consultants to embrace advanced and latest in technology; we build on their expertise by expanding their domain knowledge, improving their skills and enhance their orientation towards better treatments with better outcomes. In doing so, we recogise that as a healthcare provider, it remains our responsibility to ensure that we deliver quality and affordable health care solutions to all our patients in Tropicana Medical Centre.” Also present to witness the event were Dr. Wong Chiang Yin, Executive Director & Group CEO of TMC Life Sciences Berhad and other healthcare industry players.