Medical tourism gets a boost with Connexion

Medical tourism in Singapore will get another shot-in-the-arm when Singapore's first fully integrated institution, aimed at medical tourists, opens in early 2010.

Connexion, situated directly above the Farrer Park MRT underground station, offers the Farrer Park Medical Centre with 189 consultation suites, the 220-bed Farrer Park Hospital and the 230-room One Farrer Hotel.

Developed by Singapore Health Partners, which was set up by a group of 40 established local doctors, one architect and two foreign investors in 2006, the centre's vision is to "provide excellent patient-centered care founded on medical professional integrity and clinical quality assurance within a socially responsive healthcare organisation".

Dr Luisa Lee, President of Singapore HealthPartners said that the opening of Connexion would represent a major milestone for Singapore's healthcare sector given the country's aspirations of becoming a leading medical hub in the region.

The Singapore Ministry of Health has declared its goal of attracting one million foreign tourists to Singapore per annum from 2010 onwards.

"Connexion will add greater room capacity and choice to Singapore's healthcare system in the form of a brand new healthcare facility built to current best practices in hospital design, incorporating advances in healthcare technology that have transformed healthcare in the past three decades."

First of its kind - hospital and hotel

A unique feature of Connexion is the twinning of the hospital with the deluxe One Farrer Hotel. To be managed separately, the hotel will provide "a rich hotel experience" with a wide range of rooms adapted to individual customer needs. It also features a large ballroom and banquet hall, seminar rooms, conference centre, two large spas, two gymnasiums, a retail floor, and a range of food and beverage outlets.

Said Dr Lee, "The idea of a purpose-built hotel together with a hospital in the same complex is a unique offering in Singapore and the region. Regional patients under the care of our specialist clinicians will find unparalleled convenience when travelling to Singapore for their consultations and treatment.

"Our unique collection of 'hotels within a hotel' will enable our patients and their accompanying care providers to choose from a wide range of rooms and services to suit their individual needs. They will also be able to avail themselves of wellness and lifestyle activities designed to complement their medical treatment, all within the comfort of a luxurious hotel setting."

On target markets, Dr Lee said that while its priority markets would hail from neighbouring countries in the region, "India, China and the Middle East are very promising, upcoming markets which will constitute a significant segment of Connexion's target market".

A competitive medical package for the Asian region

As for price competitiveness relative to other places that are vying for medical tourists such as Bangkok and Kuala Lumpur, she said, "We believe in providing our customers and patients with value-added experiences not offered anywhere else in the world. And value for money does not equate to settling for something cheaper from, say, a hospital or a hotel either in Bangkok or Kuala Lumpur because a lower price does not always guarantee competitiveness and may, on the contrary, create the perception that our services are inferior to those offered in other countries.

"The integrated concept of a hotel-cum-hospital under one roof is a first of its kind in the world and one that is way ahead of its time in both the hospitality and healthcare industries. A medical, leisure or business traveler at Connexion will be able to look forward to a novel and authentic experience which he/she will be eager to share with his/her relatives and friends back home."