KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 8 (Bernama): Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak is expected to launch the Malaysia Healthcare Travel Council in December to position the country as the healthcare hub in the region, Health Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai, said on Thursday.

He said, to ensure its success the government was working closely with the private sector to strengthen the health services industry, especially healthcare tourism.

"We have the capability and lots of resources. Our Institut Jantung Negara (IJN) and the private hospitals in Malaysia are all well equiped and are able to serve well in this industry," Liow told reporters after opening the Health Ministry Management Conference, here.

Liow said presently the health tourism industry contributed RM300 million to the Gross Domestic Product and the ministry had targeted that the industry could contribute more than RM1 billion to the GDP.

The council would initially be set up as a department in the ministry and was answerable to an advisory committee to be chaired by Liow and co-chaired by Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (in charge of the Economic Planning Unit) Tan Sri Nor Mohamed Yakcop and will start work this Oct 16.

--BERNAMA