BP Healthcare Group has announced its latest first to market with the launch of Vitamin D deficiency testing, in partnership with leading global health care company, Abbott Laboratories. The collaboration comes through a Memorandum of Understanding signed at BP Healthcare’s operational headquarters in Glenmarie, Shah Alam, near here.

“We are excited with our partnership with Abbott to continue our commitment to provide quality healthcare and quality health screening for our customers and changing lifestyles,” said Chevy Beh, BP Healthcare Group managing director.

“This is yet another preventive initiative by BP Healthcare to engage our customers to take charge of their wellness and reduce the risks of being in poor health in the future. Having a blood test is the only way to know if you have sufficient Vitamin D which is important for bone health and the overall immune system.”

Beh said Vitamin D deficiency, a condition caused by inadequate exposure to sunlight, is gaining medical attention world-wide and even in tropical countries like Malaysia where more people preferred to stay out of the sun including women who want to protect their skin from pigmentation and the young staying indoors with television and computers.

The condition is also prevalent in the elderly and less mobile persons who are unable to get out much for the daily recommended 15 minutes of sunlight, he added.

Lack of Vitamin D can lead to osteoporosis in women and rickets, the softening and weakening of bones in children.

“The Vitamin D deficiency screening is non-invasive, it is a simple blood test and the result is known within two to three days. We have our team of specialist doctors, nutritionists, dieticians and pharmacists to discuss the outcomes and recommended steps,” Beh said.

The test is available at all BP outlets throughout the country and also, at BP Healthcare’s network partners of over 4,000 private clinics. Vitamin D deficiency testing is the latest service launched by BP Healthcare in keeping with its edge as the market leader in innovative healthcare.

This year, BP Healthcare had introduced new tests in genotyping of Hepatitis B virus (HBV) and Hepatitis C virus (HCV), allergy screening and HPV DNA testing for human papillomavirus (HPV) to identify the risk of cervical cancer in women.

BP Healthcare was recognised as the Health Screening Company of the Year by Frost and Sullivan at its 2013 Malaysia Excellence Awards. It has the largest medical diagnostic chain in Malaysia with over 100 outlets spanning every state BP Healthcare is the also first medical laboratory in Asia to be accredited by the U.S-based Joint Commission International, the global leader in accrediting healthcare organisations.

BP Healthcare is the country’s biggest healthcare group in diagnostics and imaging, laboratory, pharmacy, dental, food, environmental testing, hearing and medical technologies.

It offers a comprehensive range of medical services, health well-being pro¬grammes as well as online and wholesale pharmacy.

Besides its extensive diagnostic chain network, it has over 70 laboratories, 50 pharmacies and dispensaries, 50 hearing aid centres, 50 food and industrial testing centres, five daycare/specialist centres and three dental specialist clinics.

source:MJNnews