KUALA LUMPUR: KPJ Healthcare Bhd is expecting more patients this year, supported by an increase in new beds and services as well as the hiring of new consultants.
Meanwhile, the healthcare group said it also intends to capitalise on the growth in the health tourism sector, which is expected to exceed RM2bil in revenue in 2024.
In the fourth quarter ended Dec 31, 2023, KPJ posted a net profit of RM73.39mil, which compares to RM63.41mil in the same quarter in 2022.
The group’s earnings per share rose to 1.68 sen against 1.46 sen in the comparative quarter.
Revenue, meanwhile, was higher at RM911.46mil as compared to RM765.83mil in the previous corresponding quarter.
The board of directors declared an interim dividend of one sen per share, going ex on March 6, 2024, and payable on March 29, 2024
Over the full financial year, the group’s net profit rose to RM263.41mil from RM166.98mil in FY22 while revenue jumped to RM3.42bil from RM2.87bil in the previous year.
According to the group, the higher revenue in 2023 was owing to a 4% year-on-year (y-o-y) increase in patient visits to 857,537, supported by a higher number of beds.
The bed occupancy rate also increased from 64% to 69% in the quarter under review.