March 7 – The Pinlon Gastrointestinal and Liver Center (“PGLC”) has officially opened and is located at Pinlon hospital. PGLC, Myanmar first dedicated center for gastrointestinal and liver treatment, is run by Singapore-based Asian American Medical Group (“AAMG”) and 30th Street Clinic. Under the guidance of the clinic’s head Professor Khin Maung Win and AAMG executive chairman Dr Tan Kai Chah, the center will offer consultation, treatment, endoscopies and certain surgical procedures for local and international patients. PGLC will be positioned as an international medical center. Medical experts from AAMG – surgeons, radiologists, oncologists – will work with local gastrointestinal and liver specialists to improve the quality of liver treatments in Myanmar.
The centre will also leverage on AAMG’s longstanding collaboration with U.S.-based University of Pittsburgh Medical Centre (UPMC). The renowned US-based healthcare enterprise is ranked No. 13 in the prestigious U.S. News & World Report annual Honour Roll of America’s Best Hospitals. Through AAMG, doctors and nurses from PGLC can also expect work/training stints in Singapore or the U.S. to gain exposure to global best practices.
Khin Maung Win said “ Many Myanmar citizens currently have to travel overseas to get liver treatment. With this dedicated gastrointestinal and liver center, high quality clinical care will now be available to all, even those from the region in need of liver treatment”.
Dr Tan of AAMG said: “We have no doubt that PGLC will become a leading centre for gastrointestinal and liver treatment in Myanmar and even the neighbouring countries. One of AAMG’s goals for this center is to be able to carry out more complex gastrointestinal and liver treatment in Myanmar and even the neighbouring countries. One of AAMG’s goals for this centre is to be able to carry out more complex medical procedures, including liver transplants in the foreseeable future.”
Kaung Myat, CEO of Pinlon Hospital, said: “The opening of this centre is timely, given the prevalence of liver diseases in Myanmar. Knowing both Professor Khin and Dr Tan, I am confident that PGLC will pave the way for better liver treatments in Myanmar and beyond.”
According to a survey in 2015 carried out by health officials in Myanmar, some 3.3 million people in the country suffer from hepatitis B while another 1.3 million are affected by hepatitis C. Both conditions are the most common local causes of liver cirrhosis and cancer.
