CC CASE STUDY
Servicing Malta’s medical sector
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here are some sectors you don’t really think about until you really need them – and the provision of medical products is one such area. After all, consider the plethora of equipment needed in every hospital room, treatment room or operating theatre – where do they all come from? Locally, Sidroc Services Ltd is a company specialised in the promotion, distribution and servicing of medical equipment, health and beauty products. “Our quality products and services are our top priority, and a must for the medical industry,” explains managing director George Bonello. “Everything we do is tailored to the needs of our clients and thus ensures their satisfaction.” And it is exactly this that has set Sidroc apart. So much so, that the company now considers many of Malta’s top healthcare providers among its clients, including Mater Dei, Karen Grech, Saint Vincent de Paule, the Saint James Hospital Group, Gozo General Hospital, and a number of private care homes and clinics. Sidroc first launched in 1996 and has five divisions – namely hospital equipment and disposables, home care and elderly equipment and disposables, the leasing of medical equipment, sleep diagnostics and treatment and, finally, over the counter pharmacy and sports products.
Sleep diagnosis and treatment is one area that the company is particularly focused on and specialised in. “Obstructive sleep apnea is a major concern in Malta – although people often don’t know they have it and live with it for many years before seeking diagnosis,” continues Mr Bonello, who originally trained as a nurse and thus brings a wealth of healthcare experience to the company. “It causes them to repeatedly stop breathing during sleep because their airway collapses, and this leads to a number of complications.” Untreated, sleep apnea can actually put you at risk of a number of life-threatening conditions including cardiovascular disease, diabetes, stroke, high blood pressure, and abnormal heart rhythms. Beyond that, it can also increase the likelihood of driving- and work-related accidents. Mr Bonello refers to a recent case of a person who sought the company’s help. “He was suffering from a variety of symptoms, including snoring, choking and gasping for air, and making frequent visits to the bathroom in the night. By day, this made him irritable and sleepy, and led to a lack of concentration; he even mentioned falling asleep during routine activities and at work. It was really worrying for the client but, to us, was a text-book case of sleep apnea and we knew immediately which course of treatment to take.”
Photos by Jan Zammit
Sidroc Services Ltd is a leader in the provision of medical equipment and health products. Here, company director George Bonello talks Jo Caruana through the company’s portfolio and goes into detail about the care of one particular condition – sleep apnea.
“Untreated, sleep apnea can actually put you at risk of a number of life-threatening conditions.”
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JUNE / JULY 2017