Malaysia's KPJ Healthcare reports 20% leap in profits:

KPJ Healthcare, a publicly-quoted Malaysian hospital group, has reported a 20% increase in 1994 pre-tax profits to RM 10.7 million ($4.3 million). KPJ plans to expand its collaboration with Malaysia's National Heart Institute to include the Ipoh Specialist Centre (ISC), according to the Malaysian Business Times. It also intends to increase the number of consultants employed by introducing new disciplines such as invasive and paediatric cardiology at Johor Specialist Hospital and updating the diagnostic imaging facility at ISC, says chairman Mohamed Ali Hashim. Despite major improvements in healthcare standards over the last decade, Malaysia's health spending is still less than 3% of GNP, Mr Hashim notes.