[Smart Investor] Stem Cell Therapy Puts Malaysia On The Map
Malaysia leads the medical tourism boom with articular cartilage regeneration with stem cells.
Long recognised as a popular tourist destination within the region, Malaysia is now drawing visitors to its shores for its cosmetic and medical treatments as well. According to the Malaysia Healthcare Travel Council, the country’s medical tourism market has grown more than 14 times in the last 10 years.
The availability of cost-effective treatments, skilled medical professionals, modern infrastructure and government support in Malaysia are among the factors that drive more and more medical tourists to our shores – along with the rising cost of healthcare and long waiting period back in their home countries.
One of the growing segments in the field of medical tourism is sports medicine. Malaysia has made notable strides in this field, with the increasing number of skilled specialists, advancement of technology and facilities, as well as the discovery of revolutionary new treatment procedures.
A “Miracle” Medical Breakthrough
Stem cell therapy is one of the revolutionary new treatments in the field of sports medicine. Previously used to treat cancer patients in an attempt to reverse the side-effects of conventional chemotherapy, stem cell therapy today has gained much wider acceptance and more far-reaching benefits.
In fact, stem cell therapy gives a ray of hope to many patients who were previously considered to have ‘untreatable’ conditions, including those with spinal cord injuries, Type 1 Diabetes, Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, heart disease, stroke, burns, cancer and osteoarthritis.
But what really is stem cell therapy and how does it work? More importantly, what are its implications and how is it changing the landscape of modern medicine?
Simply put, stem cells are cells capable of forming all cells in the human body and have the ability to self-renew. Under the right conditions, stem cells can form new cells or specialised cells with a specific function such as blood cells, brain cells or bone. It is thus able to replace ageing and damaged cells in the body.
Usually, damaged tissue is replaced by scar tissue, which restores the tissue structure but lacks most of its original function. Using stem cell therapy can potentially restore the original structure and function of the damaged tissue, thus leading researchers to believe that it could dramatically improve medical treatment, especially in the field of regenerative medicine.
In fact, many sports personalities and weekend warriors are seeking stem cell therapy to treat their musculoskeletal injuries, as it enables them to return to their active lifestyles relatively quickly.
The Future of Sports Medicine
Leading the way in the field of sports medicine in this region is Kuala Lumpur Sports Medicine Centre (KLSMC), a one-stop sports medicine centre that specialises in the treatment of musculoskeletal injuries.
Its pioneering treatment for cartilage injuries using stem cell therapy has made waves within the industry and put Malaysia on the world map for all the right reasons.
Known as articular cartilage regeneration with stem cells, the discovery has opened up a new horizon for the treatment of complex musculoskeletal injuries, especially of the knee joint.
According to Dr Saw Khay Yong, consultant orthopaedic surgeon and founder of KLSMC, the hospital’s patented stem cell therapy exploits the natural healing properties of the patient’s own stem cells to treat cartilage injuries of the knee.
“Our patient’s stem cells are harvested from the blood stream and re-injected into damaged areas according to an established injection regime. These cells are also cryopreserved and stored for future treatments. To aid in successful regeneration of the damaged cartilage, patients are required to undergo physiotherapy rehabilitation,” explained Dr Saw.
The implications of stem cell therapy on patient care are enormous. With stem cell therapy, patients can look forward to resuming the active lifestyle that they led prior to injury. This has been witnessed in over 500 stem cell patients who have walked through KLSMC’s doors.
“Patients we have treated with stem cell therapy have seen far-reaching improvements in their quality of life. There have been patients with serious injuries, with little or no prospective chance of full recovery; many had to compromise their active lifestyles and sporting hobbies.
“However, with stem cell therapy and the holistic care, patients are able to achieve full, or near to full recovery, rendering them far better quality of life,” said Dr Saw.
The treatment thus appeals to younger patients who do not want to compromise on their quality of life. In fact, over 55% of KLSMC’s stem cell patients in the last six years have been in their 40s and 50s, with about 95% being under 60 years.
In addition, the surgical technique, harvesting and storage of stem cells, as well as the post-operative rehabilitation that encompasses articular cartilage regeneration at KLSMC, has been developed to maximise the chances of high-quality regeneration and repair.
As one of the few hospitals in the world to offer articular cartilage regeneration with stem cell therapy, KLSMC is certainly poised to helm the boom of medical tourism in Malaysia, especially in the field of sports medicine.
