PETALING JAYA: Fertility care provider Alpha IVF Group Bhd has commenced operations in China with the opening of a new sales representative office in Shanghai's Huangpu District.
This marks Alpha IVF's second international expansion following its initial public offering (IPO) in March 2024, adding to its recent venture into the Philippines.
Last week, Alpha IVF announced its entry into the Philippine medical sector, focusing on obstetrics, gynaecology, and fertility, through a joint venture with two local doctors, forming Alpha IVF (Manila) Inc.
Additionally, the group operates in Malaysia and Singapore, with three specialist centres in Malaysia—two in Kuala Lumpur and one in Penang—and one in Singapore.
Operated through its wholly-owned subsidiary Alpha International (Shanghai) Medical Consulting Ltd, the new office in Shanghai aims to capitalise on China’s rapidly growing in-vitro fertilisation (IVF) market besides strengthening the group’s regional footprint.
In a statement, Alpha IVF said its Shanghai office will serve as a key gateway for Chinese patients to access its advanced fertility services, including preimplantation genetic testing for aneuploidies (PGTA), a screening technique for chromosomal abnormalities that is not yet available in China.
“The office will also emphasise the group’s high IVF success rates and streamline the process for patients seeking treatment in Malaysia,” it added.
Its group managing director Datuk Dr Colin Lee Soon Soo highlighted China’s potential, noting that the new office will enhance the patient experience, reduce logistical challenges, and expand access to advanced fertility treatments.
“With China facing chronic fertility challenges, we hope to play a pivotal role in helping couples set up their families, facilitating access to our cutting-edge reproductive technologies and high IVF success rates,” he noted.
The Shanghai office is projected to have the capacity to recruit over 150 egg retrieval procedures annually.
Before the Covid-19 pandemic, Chinese patients accounted for 21% or RM12.8mil, of the group’s Malaysia operations revenue for the financial year ended May 31, 2020 (FY20).
The pandemic resulting in border closures led to a decline in this contribution.
However, the group has since seen a recovery.
In FY24, Chinese patients contributed RM12.6mil or 9.3% to Malaysia’s operations revenue, up from RM3.3mil or 3.1% in FY23.
Commenting on the growth prospects in China, Lee believes that the strong resurgence in Chinese patient numbers in 2024 is just the beginning.
“We are optimistic about our opportunities in China. With the reopening of borders and the launch of our new sales representative office, we are confident that contributions from Chinese patients will not only return to pre-pandemic levels but will surpass them,” he concluded.
