Some stats and facts from online newspapers about the medical tourism industry in Penang.
1) In 2011, the state received some 300,000 medical tourists which accounted for 60% of those arriving to Malaysia to seek medical treatment according to Deputy Chief Minister I Datuk Rashid Hasnon.
2) According to Dr Hilmi, Deputy Health Minister with the efforts of MHTC (Malaysian Health Tourism Council), it has transformed Malaysia’s health tourism sector. Actual number of health tourists in 2011 increased from 392, 956 in 2010 to 583,296. It is expected to increase further to 671,727 in the year 2012 representing a 15% increase.
3) A few Penang hospitals are amongst the top 10 in receiving the medical tourism patients. They are Island Hospital, Penang Adventist and Lam Wah Ee Hospital.
This augurs well for Penang economy as a whole. Some of these patients may buy properties in Penang but more importantly, the money they spent would enable Penangites who are working in the healthcare industry to be able to afford to buy or upgrade their current property. I hope all these private hospitals would continue to upgrade their service and more importantly, increase their beds. They need to also serve Penangites, not just foreigners. 🙂
Leave a Reply