Sunway healthcare teams up with China's frontliners to combat Covid 19

PETALING JAYA: In efforts to strengthen the battle against Covid-19, Sunway Group’s healthcare segment has teamed up with eight visiting experts who were among China’s frontliners against the coronavirus to discuss combating the pandemic.

The discussions were on preventative measures, treatment, management and research to battle Covid-19.

Sunway Medical Centre was led by Dr Seow Vei Ken, Dr Tan Lian Huat and Sunway Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) consultant and director Dr Lim Ren Jye, while the Chinese team of medical professionals were led by Guangdong Provincial Hospital of TCM vice-president Dr Li Jun.

Dr Lim said the experts from China also shared their first-hand experiences in the adoption of Chinese herbal medicine in treating Covid-19 patients.

“According to Dr Li, research is vital to evaluate the efficacy and safety of Traditional Complementary Medicine in Covid-19 management.

“The discussion has also brought in new and valuable insights to the research preparation by Sunway TCM Centre, ” said Dr Lim.

Dr Lim also said Sunway TCM centre, Sunway Healthcare Group, Sungai Buloh Hospital, the Heath Ministry and the Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine Alumni Malaysia will be collaborating to submit a research initiative on treatment options for Covid-19.

According to Dr Lim, the research will be looking into identifying possible Chinese herbal treatment and standard care for patients infected with Covid-19.

According to Sunway Group, the research will test the effectiveness of herbal medicine in addition to the standard care of treatment in confirmed Covid-19 cases that are clinically classified Grade 2 and above.

It added that the TCM management will refer to the guidelines set by the Chinese Clinical Guidance for Covid-19 pneumonia diagnosis and treatment.

Sunway Group also said the research application was submitted this month and is currently awaiting approval from the Malaysian Research Ethical Committee (MREC) Board.

It added that the research will be funded by Sunway TCM Centre, Sunway Healthcare Group, and Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine Alumni Malaysia.