Embargoed until 31 July 2012

Fortis Healthcare launches first colorectal hospital in Southeast Asia

Fortis Colorectal Hospital (FCH) to offer cutting-edge and personalised care for patients suffering from colorectal diseases

31 July 2012, Singapore The Fortis Colorectal Hospital (FCH) officially opened its doors today to patients in Southeast Asia seeking cutting-edge and patient-centric medical treatment for colorectal diseases. Located along Adam Road, FCH is fully dedicated to the management of the full spectrum of colorectal conditions. Unlike general hospitals which offer treatment for a range of medical conditions, FCHs focus on colorectal diseases allows it to offer patients the latest treatments and technological innovations that have been developed specifically for colorectal conditions. The 31-bed hospital will also focus on education and research to improve the quality of colorectal disease treatment in the region. This combination of expertise and innovation will tie into FCHs focus on offering quality care to colorectal patients. The scope of services available at the hospital includes elective and emergency endoscopy, laparoscopic and robotic surgery as well as a 24-hour Colorectal Care Clinic, which provides round-the-clock consultations and follow-up care for colorectal conditions. Also housed within the hospital is the Fortis Wellness Centre that offers a comprehensive range of screening options including those specific to colorectal health. World-class Medical Talent The medical team will be led by four renowned colorectal surgeons, each with a special focus on specific areas in the treatment of colorectal diseases. Medical Director Dr Francis Seow-Choen, a pioneer in laparoscopic colorectal surgery, is an established global leader in the development of colorectal surgery. Most recently,

he was bestowed an honorary membership of the Association of Coloproctology of Great Britain and Ireland. Dr Koh Poh Koon specialises in the clinical management and surgical treatment of patients and families with hereditary colorectal cancers, while Dr Lim Jit Fong is an expert in pelvic floor disorders. Dr Ho Kok Suns special interest is in minimally invasive colorectal surgery. Dedicated patient care FCHs experienced surgeons are supported by a team of dedicated nursing and allied health staff, all trained in the management of colorectal conditions. Patients expect more from their healthcare providers better doctors, more treatment options, and a better hospital experience. At FCH, we believe that our specialty focus on colorectal conditions - and only colorectal conditions - allows us to deliver the high quality and differentiated care expected by patients today. said Dr Jeremy Lim, CEO of Fortis Colorectal Hospital. FCHs personalised approach to patient care starts from the moment patients arrive at the hospital. Through the use of the integrated health information system (HIS) shared by FCH and its outpatient practice at the Fortis-Novena Colorectal Centre, patients are warmly greeted by name and immediately escorted to either the Day Surgery Ward or In-Patient Ward, depending on their treatment. The hospitals attention to detail is reflected in personal iPads offered to patients to provide easy access to their medical records, bidets in every toilet to ease postprocedure discomfort, and a content-rich digital personal entertainment system in every room. Medical equipment is hidden behind wooden panels, giving the rooms a restful ambiance, and with no visiting hour limitations, family members and friends are encouraged to be part of every patients recovery process. We want our patients to feel at ease when they are here for treatment, and not reminded of their illnesses. A restful environment will set their mind at ease, and aid in their recovery process. It also provides a more relaxed setting for the medical staff to engage with the patients. said Jeffrey Yeo, Senior Director for Operations at Fortis Colorectal Hospital.

Partnerships with medical technology providers The hospital will continue to invest in medical technologies that have been developed specifically to improve surgical outcomes for colorectal surgery. FCH has partnered international medical technology providers such as Medtronic, Karl Storz and Covidien, to offer patients at FCH access to innovative colorectal disease treatments. These include an integrated operating theatre setup developed by Karl Storz, the da Vinci surgical robot designed for precision surgery, and the VAAFT technique for the treatment of anal fistulas, and the Interstim II therapy for bowel incontinence. Advancing medical education, training and research As the only colorectal hospital in the region, FCH is in a unique and advantageous position to further the colorectal discipline through education, training and research. In the area of research, FCH has begun a collaborative effort with the Institute of Bioengineering and Nanotechnology (IBN) in Singapores first public-private research partnership of this kind, to accelerate translational research in colorectal cancer. In the coming months, FCH will also be offering a structured fellowship programme conducted by its surgeons, specially designed and tailored for advanced training in colorectal surgery. FCH will also actively engage international medical experts to develop best practices to improve the treatment of colorectal diseases. END

For more information or interview requests, please contact: Jodie Nei / Samantha Kudus Ogilvy Public Relations jodie.nei@ogilvy.com / samantha.kudus@ogilvy.com 6213 7851 / 6213 9963

About Fortis Colorectal Hospital Fortis Colorectal Hospital (FCH) is Singapore and Southeast Asias first and only hospital dedicated to colorectal diseases management. As Fortis Healthcare Limiteds 76th hospital in Asia, FCH brings together the expertise of leading colorectal surgeons in Singapore, in the delivery of world-class medical and surgical specialist services specific to colorectal diseases. The hospital combines the best of technology and medical expertise, with dedicated and personalised patient care, to offer patients an optimal experience and surgical outcomes. FCH also has outpatient practices (Fortis-Novena Colorectal Centre) at the Novena Specialist Center which comes with a fully fully-equipped investigative laboratory to advance medical research and treatment of colorectal diseases. Assuming a leadership position in colorectal diseases management, FCH will also emphasise education and research, in addition to clinical care. As the only colorectal hospital in Southeast Asia, FCH recognises its duty to create and share knowledge that will benefit other colorectal practices and colorectal patients. www.fortiscolorectalhospital.com About Fortis Healthcare Fortis Healthcare Limited is a leading, integrated healthcare delivery provider in the Pan Asia-Pacific region. The healthcare verticals of the company span primary healthcare, speciality day care, diagnostics and hospitals, with an asset base in 10 countries, many of which represent the fastest-growing healthcare delivery markets in the world. Currently, the company operates its healthcare delivery network in Australia, Canada, Dubai, Hong Kong, India, Mauritius, New Zealand, Singapore, Sri Lanka and Vietnam with 75 hospitals, over 12,000 beds, over 600 primary care centres, 191 day care speciality centres, over 210 diagnostic centres and a talent pool of over 23,000 people. Fortis Healthcare is driven by the vision of becoming a global leader in the integrated healthcare delivery space and the larger purpose of saving and enriching lives through clinical excellence. www.fortishealthcare.com