Insights

11-Jan-17 With Malaysia emerging as the number one country in the world for healthcare, the government is working to secure MYR1 bn (USD225 mn) to expand its medical industry. Already doing well in medical tourism, Penang would be focusing on turning itself into a medical city. Malaysia was recently named number one in the world for healthcare by International Living magazine. [image: Free Malaysia Today]

11-Jan-17 Under pressure Thailand is seeking new markets and promoting health checks. Thailand is under pressure from competition and weaker economies in key source regions - Russia and Middle East. The government is beginning to move promotional efforts to newer markets of China and Indochina. [image: IMTJ]

31-Dec-16 As throngs of Venezuelans trek to Brazil in search of food and medicine, hospitals along Brazil’s northern border are struggling to pick up the pieces of Venezuela’s failing healthcare system. An economic crisis and hyperinflation have cleaned Venezuelan hospitals of supplies. Desperate for care and often undocumented, patients are overwhelming Brazilian emergency rooms as they turn up by the thousands. [image: Marina Lopes / The Washington Post]

30-Dec-16 According to China’s leading online travel marketplace, Ctrip, Chinese medical tourism grew to reach 500,000 outbound trips in 2016, and Ctrip's medical tourism business grew by 500%, having been launched in Sep 2015. Health checks made up over 50% of Chinese medical tourism trips in 2016. Among Ctrip’s customers, Japan was the most popular destination followed by Korea. [image: Shutterstock / Jing Daily]