Record year for Malaysian medical tourism

IMTJ Medical tourism in Malaysia hit record levels in 2011 and is on track to achieve yet another year of healthy numbers in 2012. But with the bulk of business coming from Indonesia, attracting people from other countries is vital for long-term growth as Indonesia has a new hospital improvement plan.

Receipts from foreign patients spending on medical treatment in Malaysia in 2011 were RM 509.77 million, while foreign patient numbers were 578,403. This compares to revised figures for 2010 of 392,956.The 2012 prediction is over 600,000.

Dr Mary Wong Lai Lin of the Malaysia Healthcare Travel Council (MHTC) says the 2011 revenue grew by 34.5 %, while the number of patients went up by 47.2 % on 2010. These figures are well above the initial projection of RM 431 million revenue and 400,000 foreign patients.

MHTC was established under the Ministry of Health Malaysia as the primary agency to develop and promote the healthcare travel industry and position Malaysia as the healthcare destination of choice in the region. Medical tourism receipts are separate from tourist receipts, which are tabulated by the tourism ministry. 41 hospitals and 8 dental, eye, and health screening clinics are registered with MHTC.

Penang received the highest share of foreign medical revenue at 49 %, followed by hospitals within the Klang Valley at 21 % and Malacca, at 10 %. The Indonesian market continued to form the bulk of foreign patients in Malaysia due to its proximity and accessibility. Dr Mary Wong Lai Lin of MHTC adds, “We are targeting Japan, China, the Middle East and Bangladesh as well as countries within South East Asia such as Cambodia and Myanmar.” Foreign patients often seek very specialised treatment such as cardiac, orthopaedic, in vitro