Reopening of borders will revive medical tourism, say private hospitals

The Association of Private Hospitals Malaysia says its 151 members will strictly adhere to SOPs before admitting tourists for treatment. (Bernama pic)

PETALING JAYA: The Association of Private Hospitals Malaysia (APHM) has backed a proposal for the nation’s borders to be fully reopened from March 1.

APHM president Dr Kuljit Singh said this would allow medical tourists to return to Malaysia for treatment, which had been halted since early 2020, noting that medical tourism had generated a revenue of RM1.7 billion in 2019.

“The association has 151 member hospitals throughout the country with a majority of them treating medical tourists, particularly from neighbouring countries.

“However, private hospitals will strictly adhere to all SOPs by the health ministry on screening these tourists before accepting them for treatment,” he said in a statement.

Kuljit also said private hospitals were ready to accept decanted patients from public hospitals should there be an unlikely surge of Omicron patients in government facilities.

He said private hospitals would continue to support the government to ease its burden as they have been included as part of the National Covid-19 Rapid Response Task Force.

“APHM also urges the public to get their booster doses at the earliest and there are a few private hospitals currently helping to provide these booster vaccines.

“Private hospitals will also assist with the vaccination of children between five and 11 years very soon,” he said.

He said it was evident worldwide that complete vaccination with a booster had brought the severity of the pandemic down and had encouraged economic recovery with the reopening of international borders.

Yesterday, National Recovery Council chairman Muhyiddin Yassin suggested that Malaysia’s borders ought to be reopened by March 1 without mandatory quarantine.

He said this was the way forward as the nation had achieved high vaccination rates and lower hospital admissions.

However, the reopening of the borders should be carried out in an orderly manner and based on the current evaluation of risks.

Defence minister Hishammuddin Hussein said the borders would only be reopened after discussion with the health ministry, the tourism, arts and culture ministry as well as the immigration department. - FMT