PENANG is set to become the first state in the country to introduce the first-of-its-kind physiotherapy medical equipment, known as PiezoWave2T, at government healthcare facilities.
This 4th generation of German-engineered device is the latest advancement in piezo shockwave therapy, aimed at alleviating joint and knee pains, among senior citizens.
Air Putih assemblyman Lim Guan Eng announced this initiative to support the elderly people, who often struggle with costly phsiotheraphy sessions at private healthcare facilities.
“As we all know, many senior citizens suffer from joint and knee pains and cannot afford to sustain the exorbitant charges imposed on them, especially at the private healthcare centres.
“Some of them need to fork out a few hundred ringgit per session. To make things worse, one needs to undergo a few sessions of treatment before recuperating. Hence, some of those from the B40 and M40 groups find it challenging,” he said in a press conference at his service centre in Air Putih today.
Lim highlighted that the equipment currently used at the government healthcare institutions is not up to par compared with the evolution of healthcare technology nowadays.
“In fact, I have sought treatment a few times at the government healthcare facilities, and I realised the need to have a new generation of equipment to better serve our senior citizens.
“Hence, I have liaised with the Avro Medical Sdn Bhd to obtain at least four machines to be placed at the government healthcare facilities. One of them will be stationed at the Air Putih government clinics at the Bukit Bendera parliamentary constituency,”
Lim noted that the price for each equipment is estimated at RM150,000, and he, alongside others, would raise funds for such initiative.
“I believe Avro Medical Sdn Bhd is also keen to perform corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiative by providing us a reasonable price for the equipment,” he said, adding that each session of the therapy session would cost only RM5 at government healthcare facility and significantly reducing the financial burden on them.
With the rising number of senior citizens in the state, Lim noted the urgency to assist this group of people to live with joy, instead of pain.
On top of that, Lim noted that qualified therapists would be on hand to guide patients in utilising the equipment, with the initiative expected to be fully operational within two months.
With more than 30 years of expertise in piezo shockwave technology, the PiezoWave 2T is set to revolutionise physiotheraphy in Penang, proving much relief to its ageing population.
Avro Medical Sdn Bhd managing director Jakly Cox appreciated Lim’s noble efforts to provide the best healthcare for senior citizens and pledged the company’s support for the initiative.
Also present at the press conference were Bukit Bendera MP Syerleena Abd Rashid, Senator Dr RA Lingeshwaran, Avro Medical Sdn Bhd chief operations officer Nor Hafidah Mustapha, and regional business manager Shirley Ooi.
Story and pix by Edmund Lee