SHAH ALAM, Sept 4 — The Covid-19 pandemic exposed critical gaps in the public health care system, including workforce shortages, health inequities, and underinvestment in public health infrastructure.
This was particularly evident in testing, where substantial funds were needed to scale up diagnostic capabilities and manage the crisis. Testing was vital not only for diagnosing patients, but also for controlling the virus’s spread and shaping public health policy.
“During the pandemic, a Covid-19 swab test can cost up to RM300, and the government spent millions on these early on. We realised we needed to handle diagnostics ourselves to not only control the prices, but the turnaround time for results,” said Selgate Healthcare Sdn Bhd CFO Muhammad Azfizam Hamzah in an interview with CodeBlue last August 19.
“The mandate from the state government is for us (Selgate) to develop our own health care ecosystem, which is why we needed this diagnostics lab.”
Selgate Corporation Sdn Bhd is a wholly owned subsidiary of the State Development Corporation of Selangor (PKNS) and operates primarily in health care (Selgate Healthcare Sdn Bhd) and property (Selgate Properties Sdn Bhd).
In Selangor, a hotspot for Covid-19 transmission due to its dense population, widespread testing was key in identifying and isolating cases swiftly to prevent outbreaks. To meet demands, Selgate Healthcare set up its own diagnostics lab, Selcare Diagnostics Sdn Bhd.
Selcare Diagnostics commenced operation in January 2022, just after the peak of the pandemic.
Located at the Selgate Healthcare Centre at Universiti Selangor (Unisel) in Shah Alam, Selangor, the diagnostics lab can conduct polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests and process up to 100 samples in four hours. The lab can also run 500 blood samples in an hour.
As the Covid-19 pandemic transitioned to an endemic phase, the Selangor state government shifted its focus to non-communicable diseases (NCDs) with the Selangor Saring free health screening programme.
The Selangor Saring state-sponsored programme, launched in June 2022, aims to detect NCDs such as hypertension, diabetes, liver disease, and cancer. The programme is conducted across all 56 constituencies in the state.
“At each Selangor Saring event, Selcare Diagnostics typically collect about 400 to 500 samples in one day, and it can go up to 800 samples over two days,” Azfizam said. The lab has the capacity to process up to 2,000 samples daily, ensuring results for Selangor Saring tests are delivered within 48 to 56 hours.
“This is where we believe diagnostics play a vital role. By controlling the process ourselves — collecting samples and processing them in our lab — we can ensure results are delivered within 48 to 56 hours. Relying on third-party labs could create delays, as it involves additional steps, which could disrupt our timeline,” Azfizam said.
In addition to supporting state government programmes, Selcare Diagnostics also provides lab services to 2,200 panel clinics and hospitals. The lab also serves corporate clients, including the Shah Alam City Council (MBSA), PKNS, Tenaga Nasional Bhd, the Social Security Organisation (Socso), and Fomema Sdn Bhd.
“We provide typical lab tests, including blood and urine tests. We also tailor our services depending on the client’s budget and requirements,” Azfizam said.
Azfizam said Selcare Diagnostics prices are competitive, thanks to high volumes from their clients and state health programmes. This volume allows them to reduce costs per unit and negotiate better with suppliers.
Selcare Diagnostics is also expected to support three new Selgate Specialist Hospitals in Rawang (230 beds), Sepang (120 beds), and Setia Alam (166 beds), scheduled for completion by end of this year and next.
Azfizam said that the existing Selcare Diagnostics lab in Seksyen 7, Shah Alam, has sufficient capacity to meet the demands of the new hospitals.
“Our plan is to focus on Selangor first, and possibly the Klang Valley. If opportunities arise, we might consider expanding to other states, but for now, our focus is on Selangor,” Azfizam said.
“We want to be strong on our home turf. We want to ensure that when people think of Selangor, they know we have our network of hospitals, clinics, and diagnostics labs, and that they are confident in our services.”
