Chua Chides Private Hospitals

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 27 (Bernama) -- Health Minister Datuk Dr Chua Soi Lek is disappointed with several private hospitals that have withheld the number of their foreign patients.
He said their refusal to divulge the information would retard the government's effort to promote medical services as one of the country's tourism products.
This should not have happened because the medical tourism sector had a high potential as Malaysia had expertise and skills that were on par with that of developed countries like the United Kingdom, United States and Singapore, he said.
"In terms of costs, it's cheaper and the fact that our country's population comprises various races means that we can accommodate people from any country," he said told reporters at Kota Damansara Monday.
Dr Chua said the ministry had not made it mandatory for private hospitals to disclose details like the number their foreign patients and the type of medical services they sought.
But a healthcare legislation that would be enforced this year would require private hospitals to do so comprehensively, he said.
He said the information would enable the government to draw up strategies to promote medical tourism.
According to the data provided by the Malaysian Private Hospitals Association, 174,189 foreign patients sought treatment at 27 private hospitals nationwide and generating revenue of RM104.98 million in 2004.
The number had since grown tremendously as in the first quarter of 2005 alone, the hospitals received 172,313 foreign patients and raked in RM109.0 million.
"A study conducted by the government in 2002 has forecast that the foreign patient market in the country will be worth RM2.2 billion by 2010," Dr Chua said.
Earlier, Dr Chua performed the ground-breaking ceremony for the construction of TMC Life Sciences Berhad's the Tropicana Medical Centre in Kota Damansara.
The medical centre on a 2.4ha site is expected to be completed in early 2008. When completed, it will house the Damansara Fertility Centre, among others.