KUALA LUMPUR:
Malaysia was ranked one of the world's top five
medical tourism destinations last year by online
publication Nuwire Investors.
The
Deloitte Medical Tour-ism report 2008 and Research
and Consultancy Solution, a research institute in
India, said Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand were
among the most preferred destinations in East Asia
for medical treatment.
Cashing
in on these findings, Health Minister Datuk Seri
Liow Tiong Lai yesterday launched a logo featuring
the brand name "Malaysia Healthcare" with
the tagline "Quality care for peace of mind"
to further boost the health tourism industry.
He
said the website would serve as a gateway for potential
foreign patients and visitors to explore what the
Malaysian healthcare sector had to offer in terms
of medical treatment options, health and medical
facilities, and other information.
In
1998, 39,114 foreign patients sought treatment in
Malaysia. Last year, the figure rose to 374,063.
The revenue from foreign patients' hospital bills
also grew from RM14.1 million in 1998 to RM299.1
million last year.
"These
statistics illustrate that the industry has the
potential to become a new source of income."
He
said the Deloitte report revealed that 39 per cent
of respondents surveyed would go abroad for an operation
if it meant they could save half the cost and be
assured that the quality and standard of service
provided was comparable.
In
2007, 750,000 Americans travelled abroad to get
treatment and the figure is estimated to reach six
million by next year, with the amount spent estimated
to be in the range of US$7.9 billion (RM27.9 billion)
to US$10.1 billion.
Liow
said the global health tourism market was experiencing
a growth rate of 20 to 30 per cent per annum.
Liow
will submit a proposal to the cabinet on the establishment
of a Malaysian Healthcare Travel Council to oversee
the industry and promote it overseas.
Thirty-five
private hospitals received the Health Industry Recognition
Award from the minister for their contributions
to health tourism.
-- By :
Annie Freeda Cruez
