Working within the healthcare sector, Dr Rafiq has grow to be all too accustomed to tales of fogeys having to depart work as quickly as their kids catch a chilly at their nursery or college.
“It’s a pity that some bosses could have dangerous impression on these dad and mom,” Dr Rafiq identified.
This can be particularly regarding as a result of youngsters don’t get sick simply a couple of times, however a number of occasions, throughout their toddler days.
“We expect that this may be averted by treating the kid first (in fact with the dad and mom’ consent) with out having the guardian rush from work, disrupting their efficiency at work,” the physician mentioned.
That’s why Dr Rafiq and his enterprise associate, Dr Qayyum, got here collectively to begin ORION Clinic, Preschool and Childcare Centre (Orion).
An idea that mixes a healthcare clinic, a preschool, and a childcare centre beneath one roof, right here’s how Orion works.
A 3-in-one resolution
Led by Dr Rafiq, Orion Clinic is the flagship healthcare facility that underpins the enterprise. It presents a spread of medical providers, from routine check-ups to acute therapies.
Then there’s Orion Preschool, which is a licensed college beneath the Division of Social Welfare. It follows the construction of the Nationwide Syllabus, designed to advertise kids’s studying, growth, engagement, and security.
Following a Montessori-styled strategy, the preschool additionally presents bodily health, Mandarin, and Iqra’ courses to make sure holistic growth.
Final however positively not least is Orion Childcare Centre, which is a licensed childcare centre beneath the Division of Social Welfare.
A part of that is the nursery, which cares for infants as younger as 12 weeks outdated.
However the principle draw of the childcare centre and the pre-school is the truth that there are in-house medical doctors obtainable. Particularly, Dr Qayyum is the in-house physician cum principal who can instantly attend to college students in the event that they fall sick.
“By bringing collectively healthcare, preschool, and childcare providers in a single handy location, Orion saves households beneficial time and vitality,” Dr Rafiq defined. “No extra juggling a number of appointments and drop-offs.”
Balancing training and healthcare
Graduating in 2011, Dr Rafiq began his profession as a health care provider in Hospital Queen Elizabeth in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah. After that, he obtained transferred to some different hospitals, and lastly, to Hospital Serdang.
In 2019, although, he determined to resign from authorities service to begin his personal observe.
“After virtually 9 years serving the federal government and harvesting data and expertise from the job, I believe I used to be well-equipped sufficient to have my very own personal observe,” he mentioned.
He determined to arrange store in Cyberjaya, which he felt didn’t have many clinics nonetheless on the time.
Along with Dr Qayyum, he got here up with the concept to create a system the place dad and mom really feel assured about their kids’s security and well being.
Believing in his imaginative and prescient, Dr Rafiq borrowed cash from his household in addition to utilized for a mortgage from Perbadanan Usahawan Nasional Berhad (PUNB). With about RM400k, he and Dr Qayyum began the clinic and the childcare centre.
The 2 of them, who each obtained their medical levels from Moscow, Russia, are the one medical medical doctors within the institution.
Becoming a member of them is a complete of 15 academics, who altogether cater to 59 college students at present. The teacher-to-student ratio is as such:
Infants: 1 to 2.25
Toddlers: 1 to 4
Preschool: 1 to five
All college academics and carers possess expertise as an educator, Dr Rafiq assured.
Whereas the varsity is Dr Qayyum’s area, Dr Rafiq mans the clinic alongside six different workers members.
“They shouldn’t be anxious in regards to the youngsters being uncovered to sicknesses from the clinic because the clinic and the varsity are usually not interconnected,” Dr Rafiq clarified.
That is because the clinic is situated on the bottom flooring whereas the varsity aspect of issues is on the primary flooring. Children who’re unwell and wish pressing medical consideration will probably be delivered to the clinic by the academics to be examined and handled by the physician.
A novel edge
The primary cash maker for Orion is the clinic, with 70% of the income coming from there, whereas the rest is generated by the varsity.
For the preschool and childcare centre aspect of issues, the pricing begins from RM1,200 per 30 days.
This charge is inclusive of month-to-month check-ups within the college and offers dad and mom 10% off for each remedy within the clinic. The kid’s quick members of the family can also benefit from the low cost on the clinic.
Believing within the potential of their idea, Dr Rafiq shared that they do have ambitions to develop into different areas, significantly these with a inhabitants much like Cyberjaya.
Once I first heard about Orion, I used to be sceptical about whether or not they had been capable of correctly stability healthcare and childcare.
These days, younger dad and mom appear to care greater than ever about early childhood growth to make sure they’re setting their youngsters up for fulfillment.
For example, in the identical neighborhood as Orion is HEI Faculties Cyberjaya, which we visited earlier this yr. Specialising in Finnish training, I’d say the College of Helsinki-backed pedagogy there’s fairly enticing for fogeys.
Nevertheless, Orion was based by medical doctors, not educators. Are they honestly geared up to show kids?
To that, they defined that Dr Qayyum, who’s the principal, is targeted on managing the varsity slightly than educating the kids. The educating and caregiving are left to the consultants who do have the required {qualifications} and data.
The place Dr Rafiq and Dr Qayyum shine is within the enterprise and medical aspect of issues, providing dad and mom ease of thoughts with their wealth of medical experience.
Be taught extra about Orion Clinic, Preschool and Childcare Centre right here.
Learn different articles we’ve written about Malaysian startups right here.
Featured Picture Credit score: Orion Clinic, Preschool and Childcare Centre
