Private hospitals hope for return of billion ringgit medical tourism industry

 

PETALING JAYA: The Association of Private Hospitals Malaysia (APHM) has called for medical tourism to resume as soon as possible, given its economic benefits and the capacity of private facilities to handle them with Covid-19 cases on the decline.

In 2019, the last full year sans pandemic, there were roughly 1.22 million medical tourists treated in Malaysia, generating about RM1.7 billion, according to the Malaysia Healthcare Travel Council.

In a statement, APHM president Dr Kuljit Singh called for those from neighbouring countries to be allowed to seek treatment in Malaysia, particularly those who had been fully vaccinated.

“The country will see an increase in revenue from private hospitals once the process of accepting and treating medical tourists is allowed.

“We strongly feel treating medical tourists within hospital premises will be safe, particularly now that the number of local patients with Covid-19 has dropped,” he said.

Kuljit also said private hospitals are prepared to assist in the next phase of vaccinations, involving teenagers and those requiring third doses.

“The association hopes that the private hospitals will soon be able to assist in teenage and booster vaccines for the eligible group of citizens, inclusive of healthcare frontliners, as the economy opens up during the endemic phase,” he said. - FMT