02-Jan-16 Malaysia is tying up with various governments to increase the number of inbound patients. Kazakhstan, Libya and Oman already have Government-to-Government agreements to send patients to Malaysia, which is also attracting Muslim patients, as an Islamic nation itself. Malaysia has also launched a proper shariah-abiding airline to pursue a large share of the Muslim market. [image: Stem Cell Therapy Malaysia]

25-Dec-15 Japan's first new school of medicine in 38 years will open close to Narita Airport with the aim of capitalizing on the medical tourism market and attracting foreign visitors for medical check-ups and treatments from world-class physicians. Foreign visitors will be offered general checkups, advanced medical care and the opportunity to see the sights of Tokyo. [image: International University of Health and Welfare]

23-Dec-15 Korea's Ministry of Health announced the Act on Overseas Medical Service & Support for Foreign Patient Attraction will become effective on 23-Jun-16. The Act helps Korean medical institutions make inroads abroad and supports the interests of non-Korean patients in Korea. Medical advertisements in foreign languages will be allowed at Korean airports, and overseas patients will be able to receive remote services via IT. [image: Business Korea]

20-Nov-15 With growing numbers of Chinese celebrities such as Olympic athlete Liu Xiang seeking treatment abroad, more people in China are realizing they can also seek medical care overseas. The five-year cancer survival rate is 30%, half that of patients in the US. Besides lower standards of care, complaints about Chinese hospitals include long waiting times, lengthy diagnoses and impatient doctors. [image: MetroCebu News]

13-Oct-15 As China's growing 40+ population suffers increasingly from lifestyle diseases such as cardiac problems and cancer, many of the wealthy among them will seek treatment in the US or Europe. And many more will spend some of their new found wealth on plastic surgery, dentistry or wellness programs in Korea or Southeast Asia. Chinese medical tourists spent USD10 bn in 2014, only 2.3% of the global total, suggesting that there is a huge potential for further growth in the market. What can hospitals and governments do to tap into this opportunity? [image: Travel Daily News]