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
fertilization and oncology, while an increasing number are seeking cosmetic
surgery and dental treatment.
Indonesia is planning to bring more hospitals up to international
standards, aiming for the country to be a health tourism destination by
2015.The health ministry believes that it is unfair that Indonesia is always
overlooked and even its own citizens go to Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand or
India.
There are 10 state-run hospitals in Indonesia — including Cipto
Mangunkusumo Hospital [RSCM] in Jakarta - currently working towards Joint
Commission International accreditation. Three private hospitals, Siloam
Hospital and Eka Hospital in Tangerang and the Santosa Hospital in Bandung —
are the only JCI ones in Indonesia.
The Indonesian health ministry seeks to improve hospital standards at
home so fewer Indonesians will travel abroad to seek medical care. Bali’s
Sanglah Hospital has the most potential to be marketed as a health tourism
destination, as patients can enjoy the resort island while recuperating from
treatment. The ministry will ensure the affordability of medical care for
Indonesians at the state-run hospitals seeking international accreditation. The
plan is that the accreditation process for RSCM will finish before the end of
2012 and the others will follow soon afterwards.
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