“You Cannot Buy Your Health”: Swiss Financial Expert Mariya Spartalis Discovers a New Investment in Longevity at European Wellness

EXCLUSIVE | FROM WEALTH TO HEALTH

From the world of international finance to a personal wellness journey in Sabah. Join Mariya Spartalis as she shares her lifestyle and treatment experience at European Wellness Premier Centre—and why she makes time to invest in her wellbeing.

After 25 years advising millionaires, billionaires and international investors, Zurich-based financial expert Mariya Spartalis travels to Sabah to experience Prof. Mike Chan’s regenerative wellness programme — and discovers why protecting health may be just as important as preserving wealth.

KOTA KINABALU, Malaysia (Oct 18,2026)— For more than 25 years, Mariya Spartalis has helped some of the world’s wealthiest individuals protect, manage and grow their fortunes.

But after decades working in international private banking and wealth management, the Zurich-based financial expert has come to recognise a fundamental truth: even the greatest financial fortune offers little comfort when one’s health begins to deteriorate.

“Yes! You only have one life!” Prof. Mike Chan remarked, underscoring the importance of protecting one’s health.

It is a lesson Spartalis has observed through her dealings with wealthy clients, many of whom spend their younger years building businesses and accumulating assets, only to confront the physical and psychological consequences of demanding careers later in life.

Now, the Ukrainian-born banking professional, entrepreneur and mother of three has embarked on a different kind of investment — one focused on her own health and longevity.

Her journey brought her from Switzerland to the European Wellness Premier Center (EWPC) in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, for a five-day personalised wellness program under the guidance of Prof. Dato’ Sri Dr. Mike Chan, chairman of European Wellness Biomedical Group.

During an exclusive interview at the centre, Spartalis discussed her professional background, personal health concerns, experience with regenerative treatments and growing interest in the international longevity industry.

Her visit also offered an opportunity to explore potential business collaborations involving European Wellness and her international network of investors, family offices and high-net-worth clients.

From Ukraine to the World’s Financial Capitals

Who is Mariya Spartalis, and How Did She Build Her International Banking Career?

Born in Ukraine, Spartalis moved to Austria about three decades ago, beginning a professional journey that would eventually take her into senior positions in international private banking and wealth management.

She described working with Austrian and Swiss banking institutions, including Credit Suisse, and later becoming involved in the emerging world of cryptocurrency banking.

Today, based in Zurich, she works with international businesspeople, technology entrepreneurs, cryptocurrency investors and celebrities through her financial and business development activities.

“I am a wife, a mom of three children,” she said, introducing herself before discussing her career.

She also described herself as a daughter who remains close to her mother.

For Spartalis, family responsibilities have remained central even as her professional career has taken her across the world.

Her work, she explained, extends beyond managing investments and protecting financial assets.

It frequently involves discussions about inheritance, family security, succession planning and the long-term well-being of clients and their children.

Over time, she noticed that conversations about wealth increasingly intersected with questions about health.

The Hidden Cost of Success

Do Wealthy Individuals Sometimes Focus Too Much on Building Their Fortunes while Neglecting Their Health?

Spartalis believes many successful entrepreneurs underestimate the long-term consequences of stress, demanding schedules and insufficient attention to their physical well-being.

She said businesspeople often devote their younger years to expansion, investment, and professional success without considering the health challenges they may face later.

The consequences, she observed, are not necessarily limited to physical illness.

Stress, depression, and other mental health concerns can affect individuals regardless of their financial circumstances.

Her own lifestyle has been similarly demanding.

As an international financial adviser, business consultant and speaker, Spartalis travels frequently while balancing professional commitments with raising three children.

She acknowledged that the pressures of her work and travel had prompted her to become more conscious of her health.

That growing awareness eventually led her to investigate regenerative medicine and longevity programs.

Why Travel From Switzerland to Kota Kinabalu, Sabah?

How Did You First Hear About Prof. Mike Chan and European Wellness?

Spartalis said her introduction to Prof. Mike Chan came through mutual business associates involved in biotechnology and longevity-related investments.

Her professional activities had increasingly brought her into contact with wealthy clients and entrepreneurs exploring emerging opportunities in the healthcare and biotechnology sectors.

She said the COVID-19 pandemic had also contributed to a shift in attitudes, with more individuals paying attention to personal health and family well-being.

It was through these business connections that she first heard about Chan’s work.

“You have to meet Professor Chan, Mariya, if you’re in biotech,” she recalled being told.

The introduction eventually developed into discussions about longevity medicine and potential business opportunities.

Why Choose European Wellness When Switzerland Already Offers World-Class Healthcare?

Spartalis acknowledged that she had access to medical and wellness services in Switzerland, Austria, Germany, the United States, Dubai, China, and other destinations she visits regularly.

She had also undergone wellness programs worldwide all the time.

Nevertheless, she said she was curious about Chan’s background and his vast experience in cellular therapy and regenerative medicine.

Her interest deepened after learning about his early professional exposure to cellular therapies in Switzerland and Germany.

She wanted to experience his approach firsthand, particularly at the Malaysian centre associated with his international wellness network.

MARIYA SPARTALIS: “I decided to come in the heart of his medical longevity business, where he is coming from—Malaysia.”

For Spartalis, the trip represented an opportunity to combine a personal health assessment with a closer understanding of Chan’s work and the country where he was born.

Meeting Prof. Mike Chan in Cannes

What Was Your First Impression of Prof. Chan?

Spartalis recalled first meeting Chan during the Cannes Film Festival, where he was surrounded by international celebrities, personalities, and influencers.

She described him as charismatic, calm, and approachable, and recalled his interactions with the people around him all the time in Cannes.

Their initial encounter was relatively brief, but subsequent communication led to further discussions about longevity projects, including potential developments in Bali, Kota Kinabalu, and international franchise opportunities.

Spending more time with Chan during her visit to Bali and then Kota Kinabalu, Sabah gave her Bali and then an opportunity to observe his interactions with patients and medical staff.

She said she was particularly impressed by his humility, extensive knowledge and willingness to listen attentively to people suffering from many different difficult health concerns.

MARIYA SPARTALIS: “He is very humble human … a very special human being, a very kind and professional person.”knowledge,

She attributed much of her confidence in Chan to his personality, extensive knowledge, experience and the attention she observed him attending to clients all the time.

Her comments represent her personal assessment of his approach rather than an independent evaluation of clinical effectiveness.

A Personal Health Challenge

What Motivated You to Undergo Treatment at EWPC?

Although Spartalis initially approached the visit with an interest in preventive healthcare and longevity, she also had a more immediate concern.

Frequent international travel had been accompanied by recurring back pain. She recalled particularly severe episodes during trips to Bali and Kota Kinabalu before her visit to EWPC. According to Mariya, while in Bali she visited a hospital daily because of the intense pain.

She described periods of such severe discomfort that she struggled to sit for more than five minutes and needed to lie flat on a hard surface. She worried that she might eventually require spinal surgery.

The precise medical cause had not been established at the time of the interview.

“I have some pain sometimes in my back,” she explained, referring to a possible hernia that still required diagnostic clarification.

She said her objectives were therefore twofold: to address her immediate discomfort and to obtain a more comprehensive assessment of her overall health.

She wanted to understand the condition of her organs, identify possible weaknesses and investigate preventive measures before more serious problems developed.

Spartalis emphasised that she was not seeking treatment for a diagnosed life-threatening illness.

Rather, she wanted to take a proactive approach to maintaining her health.

“I wanted to scan myself. I wanted to prevent some topics. I wanted to see my weak places,” she said.

Inside Her Five-Day EWPC Program

What Medical Assessments and Treatments Did You Undergo?

Spartalis described undergoing a series of assessments during her stay, including blood tests, body scans and consultations with EWPC’s medical team.

Although she had previously undergone medical examinations in Europe, she said the evaluations in Sabah approached her health from a different perspective.

Rather than focusing exclusively on whether individual test results fell within conventional reference ranges, she said the discussions also addressed her personal wellness goals and the broader concept of healthy aging.

She was particularly interested in understanding whether her physical condition could be improved beyond what she regarded as an acceptable baseline.

The programme also introduced her to what she described as very unique, advanced equipment and therapies she had not previously experienced.

Among the facilities she mentioned were an aerospace-related wellness machine, meditation equipment, and other technologies used as part of the center’s programs.

She also referred to peptides, cellular treatments, and stem cell-related procedures.

The interview did not identify the precise devices, treatment formulations, doses, or clinical indications involved.

MARIYA SPARTALIS: “There are some very unique advanced machines which allow you to know more about your health and a very professional doctor team which also scans and analyzes, together with Professor Chan, your condition from the point of view of longevity.”

She said the combination of medical consultations, assessments, and personalized attention was among the most memorable aspects of her stay.

Her Reported Experience After Treatment

Did You Notice Any Changes In Your Health or Well-being?

Spartalis said she felt substantially better following her program, particularly in relation to the back pain that had troubled her before arriving in Sabah.

During the interview, she described being able to move more comfortably than she had previously.

“Today I feel like no pain,” she said.

She characterised the change as surprising, given her earlier concerns about the severity of her discomfort.

Spartalis was enthusiastic about her experience, but the interview did not include before-and-after clinical measurements, independent medical assessments, or follow-up evidence demonstrating that the treatment caused her improvement.

Her statements therefore remain a record of her subjective experience rather than proof of a particular therapy’s effectiveness.

Healthspan, Family, and the Desire to Age Well

Does Prof. Chan’s Philosophy of Healthspan Resonate with You?

For Spartalis, longevity is not simply a question of living to an advanced age.

She believes that remaining active, mentally alert and physically comfortable is equally important.

As a mother of three, she said she wanted to maintain her vitality and continue enjoying life with her children.

The conversation also prompted memories of her grandmother in Ukraine, who lived to the age of 90 despite facing significant health challenges.

Spartalis recalled her grandmother’s determination to continue living and her refusal to surrender to illness.

The experience reinforced her belief that mindset, family relationships and personal resilience play important roles in how people experience aging.

She acknowledged that many questions remain about how long humans can live and which interventions might influence that process.

Nevertheless, she expressed optimism about scientific progress and the possibility of improving quality of life in later years.

For her, the ultimate goal is not simply to extend life but to reduce suffering and preserve the ability to enjoy time with loved ones.

Why Wealthy Families are Watching the Longevity Industry

Is Regenerative Medicine Becoming an Important Area of Interest for Investors and Family Offices?

Spartalis believes health and longevity are becoming increasingly important subjects among wealthy individuals and international investors.

Her professional experience has exposed her to entrepreneurs and family offices exploring biotechnology, healthcare and wellness-related business opportunities.

She said many wealthy individuals were prepared to invest in their own health and that of their families, while some were also interested in commercial partnerships within the sector.

MARIYA SPARTALIS: “Wealthy individuals want to invest in their health and in the biotech of health projects simply because it’s the most important point in our life.”

She described longevity as a rapidly developing industry that has attracted attention from investors interested in new medical technologies and wellness services.

However, commercial interest in a treatment does not itself establish its clinical effectiveness. Investors and patients alike need to assess the scientific evidence, safety, regulatory requirements, and long-term outcomes associated with individual therapies.

Bringing European Wellness to an International Audience

Would You Introduce Prof. Mike Chan and European Wellness to Your Business Network?

Spartalis responded positively when asked whether she would consider introducing Chan and European Wellness to her international contacts.

Her discussions with Chan had already touched on potential collaborations and franchise development.

She expressed hope that the company’s approach could eventually reach more people through an expanded international network.

Her interest reflected both her personal experience as a visitor and her professional involvement in business development.

Spartalis said she would welcome opportunities to help develop partnerships that could bring longevity-related services to additional markets.

The interview did not establish any finalized franchise agreements, investment commitments, or specific expansion timetable.

More Than a Wellness Visit

What Was the Most Memorable Part of your Experience at EWPC?

For Spartalis, the experience extended beyond medical assessments and wellness treatments.

She spoke warmly about the centre’s doctors, nurses, support staff and personal driver, describing the atmosphere as welcoming and close-knit.

MARIYA SPARTALIS: “We had so much fun. It was like a family. I don’t want to leave here.”

Her only regret was that the visit had been too short.

With just five days in Kota Kinabalu, and much of her attention devoted to her health program, she had little opportunity to explore Sabah’s natural attractions.

She mentioned the islands, tropical rainforest, and wildlife as experiences she hoped to enjoy on a future trip, saying she intended to return to Sabah again.

For someone accustomed to travelling internationally for business, Sabah had offered a different experience—an opportunity to combine personal well-being with the prospect of discovering a new destination.

The Most Valuable Investment of All

After a Career Protecting Wealth, is Health our Greatest Asset?

At the end of the interview, Spartalis was asked whether her experience had changed the way she regarded the relationship between financial wealth and personal health.

After more than two decades managing the fortunes of wealthy clients, she had seen how professional success could coexist with physical discomfort, stress, and anxiety about the future.

Her own visit to EWPC had reinforced her interest in taking a more active role in maintaining her well-being.

She expressed gratitude to Chan and the medical team and said she hoped more people would have opportunities to learn about longevity medicine.

Describing Chan in particularly affectionate terms, she called him “the angel of longevity and the king of longevity.”

The description reflected her admiration for the physician she had travelled across continents to meet.

But the broader lesson she drew from the experience was one that extended beyond any individual treatment or medical center.

Financial assets can be managed, diversified, and passed on to future generations.

Health, she suggested, deserves at least as much attention.

And when asked directly whether the most valuable asset anyone can possess is their own health, her answer was unequivocal.

“Yes.”