Meeting Malaysia's healthcare needs

 28-Apr-16, New Straits Times

Medical tourism in Malaysia is forecast to grow. More and more foreigners are flocking here to seek a variety of treatments across the cost spectrum. By all accounts, the country is an attractive destination for medical tourists. The availability of competent medical personnel and high quality facilities will continue to give Malaysia the edge over competitors.

Image: Soft Adventure Tourism

Indeed, the country generated RM588.6 million in healthcare travel revenue from January to September last year, according to the National Transformation Programme (NTP) annual report. The biggest market was Indonesia, making up 62 per cent of the healthcare revenue, followed by the Middle East (7. 4 per cent), India (three per cent), China (2.6 per cent), Japan (2.6 per cent), Australia and New Zealand (2.5 per cent) and the United Kingdom (2.5 per cent).

Still, the enthusiasm for bringing in cash from afar must be tempered with realism. And, the reality is many Malaysians, especially those in the rural areas, lack access to quality healthcare. The Federation of Private Medical Practitioners’ Associations suggests the government must “allocate more budget for healthcare and stamp out leakages to ensure that the money is well spent”.

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