KUALA LUMPUR: MALAYSIA has been recognised as a medical and health tourism attraction in Asia since 2015, thanks to the healthcare initiatives introduced under the National Transformation Programme (NTP).
The recognition, given by the International Medical Travel Journal, has made Malaysia a popular destination for healthcare tourists from countries such as Indonesia, Myanmar, China and Vietnam.
More than one million healthcare tourists visited the country last year, with domestic hospital revenue standing at RM1.3 billion, and is expected to hit RM2.8 billion by 2020.
According to Malaysian Medical Association (MMA) president Dr Ravindran Naidu, the government was committed to focusing on health tourism, and hence, the setting up of Malaysia Healthcare Travel Council (MHTC) to monitor and coordinate health tourism activities.
Dr Ravindran said healthcare tourists chose Malaysia for its higher quality treatment and professional care, besides the affordable rates.
“We mainly target travellers from Indonesia, Myanmar, China and Vietnam as the public healthcare there is generally overcrowded and less comfortable.
“Furthermore, their services are also not as modern as what we are offering,” he told the New Straits Times Press.
“Private healthcare in those countries is beginning to develop, and can be even more expensive than here.”
Among the types of treatment in demand here are cardiac surgery, cancer treatment and plastic surgery.
“There are also patients who come for check-ups and to get a second opinion.
“The quality of the doctors in Malaysia is at its highest because of training provided to them, besides the help from dedicated and committed instructors,” he said.
MMA, he also said, constantly engaged with the Health Ministry to ensure that the country’s medical practice remained of high quality.
Efforts under NTP have helped Malaysia become the 14th largest exporter of pharmaceutical products in Asia, with local products being shipped to more than 50 countries.
In 2011, total exports of such products stood at RM577.8 million and had grown at an average annual rate of eight per cent, to RM938.5 million last year.
Healthcare-related efforts under NTP emphasise the wellbeing of senior citizens by enforcing the Private Healthcare Facilities and Services Act.
This includes the development of “Eden on The Park” integrated residential for retirement and care, as well as “Love on Wheels”, which is an on-site physiotherapy service direct to patients.
The launch of Phase 1 Clinical Guidelines last year, meanwhile, has enabled Malaysia to undertake preliminary phase tests for drug discovery and development locally.
The clinical studies will be able to reduce the cost of treatment for Hepatitis C patients from RM320,000 to RM1,200, which would benefit more than 500,000 people.