22 July 2024, Sunway City – Sunway Healthcare Group (SHG) has been named the Company of the Year (Healthcare) for Community Care and Sustainability at the prestigious 2024 Sustainability & CSR Malaysia Awards. This esteemed accolade recognises SHG’s steadfast commitment to enhancing healthcare outcomes while championing environmental stewardship and community well-being.
Since its inception, SHG has been at the forefront of healthcare excellence, integrating clinical expertise with a profound dedication to social responsibility. 2023 saw Sunway Healthcare driving impactful CSR initiatives, totalling more than RM2.3 million in value.
Dato Lau Beng Long, President of SHG, expressed gratitude for the recognition, stating, “At SHG, CSR and sustainability is integral to our mission of delivering compassionate care. Our initiatives, such as the RM2.5 million Cancer Support Fund launched in October 2022, have provided crucial support to cancer patients, including free early detection screenings, public health talks and subsidised treatments.”
“Our commitment to the overall well-being of communities is also expressed through health promotion and awareness initiatives and preventative self-care efforts,” Dato Lau continued. “This is evident in our KNOW Diabetes Campaign where we strive to combat health challenges such as the rising obesity and diabetes prevalence in Malaysia. Our various programmes and activities in 2023 have benefited over 520,000 individuals, across a wide spectrum of society.”
Beyond healthcare, SHG actively engages in community-focused welfare programmes. Its staff participated in Sunway Group’s #SunwayforGood food aid initiatives, contributing to the packing of 330,000 meals in 2023. These efforts, part of Sunway’s Meal Pack-a-thon series in partnership with Rise Against Hunger, have benefited over 5,500 beneficiaries nationwide, valued at RM458,600.
SHG’s commitment to sustainability is exemplified by initiatives across its hospitals and other health-related facilities. One example is an innovative solution implemented is the usage of the Magnetic Bearing Chiller system, which reduces energy consumption by 10-40% compared to the Conventional Centrifugal Chiller. Furthermore, solar panels installed at the hospital generated 465MWh of renewable energy in 2023.
Meanwhile, Sunway Medical Centre Velocity (SMCV), the first Malaysian hospital to commit to Race to Zero, a global campaign led by the United Nations to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, has successfully reduced CO2 emissions per occupied bed and Building Energy Index and Energy Efficiency Index year-on-year since 2020. Notably, SMCV reduced 130,385 kgCO2 per occupied bed last year alone compared to 2022.
Looking ahead, SHG is expanding its facilities with a focus on sustainability. Both the upcoming Sunway Medical Centre Damansara (SMCD) and Sunway Medical Centre Ipoh (SMCI) are being constructed with green-certified building standards, incorporating sustainable materials and rainwater harvesting systems to minimise environmental impact.
Tracia Lee Chooi Hsia, Head of Corporate Responsibility & Sustainability at SHG, emphasised, “Our sustainability journey transcends compliance; it is driven by innovation and a deep sense of responsibility. From energy-efficient systems to comprehensive waste management practices, we are committed to reducing our environmental footprint while enhancing community health.”
As SHG continues to lead in sustainable healthcare practices, it remains steadfast in its mission to promote well-being and environmental stewardship for a healthier future.
