Provide high-end treatment, hospitals told

NST: IPOH: Hospitals must provide high-end medical treatment such as heart surgery, sophisticated dental treatment and comprehensive plastic surgery to attract foreign patients.
Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek yesterday said: "We must focus on sophisticated medical treatment rather than just provide low-end facilities, such as simple plastic surgery, breast enlargement and nose and eyelid repair jobs for between RM2,000 and RM3,000.
"Sophisticated treatment are the ones that could cost between RM20,000 and RM30,000 per treatment."
He said the number of foreigners coming to Malaysia for medical treatment had increased over the years, but the value of the money spent was not in tandem with the number of visitors due to the low-end treatment.
He was speaking after officiating at a one-day seminar on public health in conjunction with Visit Malaysia Year 2007 and the launch of the book, Guide to Healthy Travelling: Have a Pleasant Vacation in Perak, by the Perak Health Department.
Dr Chua said in 2004, about 175,000 foreigners sought treatment in Malaysian hospitals but the value of treatment was only RM104 million.
In 2005, the number increased to 230,000 and this generated foreign exchange of up to RM105 million.
Indonesians form the majority of foreign patients in Malaysia.
He said hospitals should also obtain accreditation, a benchmark for services provided and facilities available, to gain the confidence of foreigners seeking treatment.
Out of the 200 hospitals in the country, only 20 have been accredited. Accreditation is awarded by the Malaysian Society of Quality in Health.
Factors that make Malaysia a medical destination include competitive charges, English-speaking staff, favourable exchange rates, trained medical specialists, multi-cultural and multi-lingual support staff and a comprehensive network of hospitals and clinics.
However, Dr Chua is unhappy with some private hospitals for conducting health tourism programmes on their own without co-ordination and co-operation with the ministry.
"We have to target patients in countries where medical facilities are not on par with the facilities in Malaysia, such as Indonesia, Vietnam, Cambodia and the Middle Eastern countries."