A new veterinary practice opens in Yangon
Dr Sing Kong Yuen, BVMS (Glasgow), MRCVS
29 April, 2012 |
 toapayohvets.com
Be Kind To Pets
Veterinary Education
Project 2010-0129 |
On April 25, 2012, I sent James Aung and his wife off
at Changi Airport to Yangon. He has been renovating his own practice
in Yangon and should be opening in June 2012.
 James
Aung is a Myanmar-qualified veterinarian but in Singapore, he worked
as a veterinary technician in various practices and knows much
more over the last 20 years of working diligently in Singapore. This
is because he was hands-on in assisting in veterinary surgery and
medicine. He gave value to his employers by spending more time and
effort to follow-up on hospitalised cases than expected of any
employee. Thus he has earned a good reputation in Singapore.
"Got to get the models to be at the opening ceremony," the wife had
invited me by offering to pay for my air tickets to Yangon to
celebrate the new opening of the new veterinary practice in Yangon.
Her friend had the connections to the media in Yangon. Car salesroom
in Yangon always show models standing around to attract the crowds.
"No models," I advised. "To get national attention, invite actresses
and actors. Famous ones to cut the ribbon! Will you provide a lion
dance like Dr Jason Teo who opened his new clinic?"
"No, no," the wife said. "Lion dances are for the Chinese."
"Ok, how about horse or donkey dance?" I asked as I had seen such
events during my travel to Mandalay from Pyin Oo Lwin, a military
garrison town.
In this practice, the wife had purchased a big pre-owned SUV car. "A
car is necessary. It costs me $60,000 in cash," the wife told
me. "No car loans unlike car purchase in Singapore."
The wife co-ordinated the renovation of the 3-storey building that she
had purchased some 3 years ago. The cost would be at least $40,000.
Amongst the usual partitions, tiles and air-conditioning, two water
tanks, a well dug and sewerage pits must be installed unlike in
Singapore.
Sometimes, it is penny wise pound foolish when she starts up a vet
clinic. At the airport, James showed me the renovation in progress in
the Apple iPad his wife had won in a contest. I had seen the place in
2008 when I visited Yangon.
Then James showed me the brochure of a supplier he intended to buy the
auroscope but not the opthalmoscope but he would have to pay cash
upfront unlike Singapore veterinary clinics. "Just pay cash," the wife
said.
"Why do you intend to buy only the auroscope?" I asked. "My wife
objects to me getting the opthalmoscope," he said. I told the wife
that there would be eye examination cases and thus this was not the
right thing to do. So she gave permission. In a survey, Asian men are
unable to save much and so it is good that James hand over his
pay to his wife who managed the finances well.
Still, there is much more to having a pretty modern veterinary
clinic and an experienced vet like James. Will the clinic be able to
sustain its profitability? There is the marketing part as there is
competition since Myanmar is now opening up its economy. There is the
business development part. The technical skills to handle complex
cases. If the clinic is not profitable over the next two years, it is
a white elephant and the wife would have lost a lot of money. "James
is on his own," she told me. "No more salary as before." I noted that
James is very happy to be his own boss and I expect him to do
reasonably well.
"He should provide free services for all the stray dogs and cats in
Yangon," I shocked the wife with this preposterous idea. "It is good
karma. That will make him famous in Myanmar as nobody is providing
this service."
The wife shook her head vigorously as she saw her investment money
down the drain. "When James is successful, I will retire as a lady of
leisure in Yangon sipping tea and doing nothing," she said to me one
day. "No more staff headaches and work problems". My idea would be not
enable her to retire as the equivalent of a Singapore "tai tai". A
"tai tai" is a rich man's wife who need not work but just enjoy a life
of pleasure and leisure.
"So you think there is no money to be made caring for stray dogs and
cats in Yangon?" I asked her. "James may get donations to do the good
work. Lots of money if he does a good job for the disadvantaged
animals." As to whether he would be rich in the long term, that
depends on how he manages this free service, his integrity and the
amount of donations.
Good management is very important in ensuring that a veterinary
practice sustains its profitability as it is not a given that many
customers will come to you just because you have opened a modern well
equipped clinic. Unless you are dirt cheap by under-pricing to get the
crowds, you will not be able to sustain the business in the long term
as there will always be new competitors who are better equipped than
you. |
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To
make an appointment: e-mail
judy@toapayohvets.com
tel: +65 9668-6469, 6254-3326 |
toapayohvets.com
Be Kind To Pets
Veterinary Education
Project 2010-0129 |
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