KUALA LUMPUR: Recent spikes in Covid-19 cases in Malaysia and virus mutations countries are facing worldwide will further dampen domestic medical tourism sector into the second half (2H) of this year.
Sunway Healthcare Group managing director Lau Beng Long envisage borders will still be closed during 2H 2021, but hope to see some relaxation by end of the year.
"We hope to see borders to be normalised in 2022 as vaccination programmes in respective countries cover more population," he told The New Straits Times.
He said, medical tourism, which generated RM1.7 billion to Malaysia in 2019, will be able to recover when the country can achieve herd immunity as according to the National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme (NCIP).
"With progressive immunisation program, we can get back on the road to recovery for our tourism sector including the medical tourism sector," Lau said.
He also noted that agreements and alignment between countries with the protocols and guidelines of vaccination passports will put Malaysia on the path to normalising travel.
He said Indonesia remains the biggest market for health tourists coming to Malaysia followed by China and India.
"To boost medical tourism, initiatives such as
vaccine passports, special lane or arrangement for health tourists from these countries, should be considered to boost our targeted medical tourists," Lau said.
The Association of Private Hospital of Malaysia (APHM) president Datuk Dr Kuljit Singh said the association is closely working with the Malaysia Healthcare Travel Council (MHTC) to facilitate medical tourism at the earliest stage without compromising the safety of the rakyat.
"Malaysia has the highest number of medical tourists between 2018 and 2019. A lot of patients in the region rely on Malaysia to seek medical treatment," he said.
The medical tourism in Malaysia recorded RM1.7 billion in revenue in 2019.
MHTC had reportedly projected up to 75 per cent decrease in medical tourism revenue in 2020 with RM500 million, hampered by the closure of international borders and stricter standard operating procedures (SOP).
Dr Kuljit said the prospect of medical tourism this year would be brighter as most of the local healthcare frontliners had been vaccinated to facilitate domestic and international medical tourisms.
He said the faster to get the vaccine for the entire population, it would be better for Malaysia to attract both tourists and medical tourist to come into the country.
Dr Kuljit also recently said that APHM is urging the government to establish an internationally recognised vaccine passport with Covid-19 test results to boost medical tourism and attract foreign tourists into the country, thus expediting the economic recovery.
Bintai Kinden Corporation Bhd (BKC) executive vice chairman Ibrahim Othman said the outlook for health tourism in Malaysia is greatly dependent on the NCIP.
"The outlook would be positive once Malaysia completes its four-stage vaccination plan to vaccinate 70 to 80 per cent of general population.
"Even with the lifting of restrictions on domestic and international travel, the question will still remain on how the health tourism sector would recover as patients and visitors are still wary on traveling at this time.
"There is currently no scientific evidence that any of the current Covid-19 vaccine completely prevents infection or asymptomatic transmission," he said.
BKC, which aims to include healthcare as one of its core businesses, recently acquired Johnson Medical International Sdn Bhd (JMSB) to expand its healthcare business segment.
Established in 1994, JMSB is a medical engineering solutions provider focused on the manufacturing, supply and installation of operating theatres, critical care units and medical gas delivery systems and trading of medical equipment and supplies.