Malaysiahealthcare In The Media
 
NST, 15 JULY , 2008
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' Healthy outlook for health tourism '
   

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia is increasing in popularity among foreigners seeking medical treatment.

The number of foreign patients at private hospitals shot up to 341,288 last year, from 296,687 in 2006 and 232,161 the year before. The hospitals also reported a corresponding increase in revenue from this sector: RM253.84 million last year, compared with RM203.6 million in 2006 and RM150.9 million the previous year.

Matrade chief executive officer Datuk Noharuddin Nordin said despite the strong growth, there was huge room for improvement in the health tourism sector.

Speaking at the opening of the three-day Association of Private Hospitals of Malaysia (APHM) international healthcare conference and exhibition here, Norharuddin said the industry should capitalise on Malaysia's advantages to increase the business.

He said health tourism was increasingly becoming an important source of income to the private healthcare pro-viders in Malaysia and this was supported by the government through the tourism, health, international trade and industry, and finance ministries; Immigration Department and non-governmental organisations such as APHM and the Association of Tour and Travel Agents.
There are more than 210 private hospitals with more than 10,000 beds, compared with only 50 private hospitals with 2,000 beds in 1980.

At the end of last year, the number of doctors stood at 18,246, assisted by 68,349 nurses.

By : Annie Freeda Cruez

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