Malaysia’s private healthcare and medical tourism sector is set to generate MYR 2.2 billion (USD 476 million) in revenue in 2024, with Penang emerging as a pivotal hub for attracting patients. The nation’s allure in medical tourism is bolstered by its extensive range of treatments, highly skilled healthcare professionals, technological advancements, and competitive pricing.
In 2023, Penang accounted for 50% of Malaysia’s medical tourism revenue, drawing nearly 1 million Indonesian patients annually. The state promotes itself as a “Good Health, Great Holidays” destination, having made substantial improvements to its healthcare infrastructure over the past five years. Local hospitals have expanded their facilities by adding new wings and specialized treatment centers to better serve medical tourists. Among these developments is the Penang Retirement Resort (PRR), which includes a wellness spa, memory clinic, physiotherapy center, rehabilitation facilities, and golf course access. Additionally, patients from China and India are crucial to the sector’s growth, comprising 5% and 3.1% of total medical tourists, respectively.
The Malaysia Healthcare Travel Council (MHTC), the primary agency tasked with promoting medical tourism, has introduced a 30-day visa-free policy effective until the end of 2025, which is expected to further enhance the influx of medical tourists from these nations. Malaysia continues to gain international recognition for its healthcare quality, exemplified by local hospitals such as Gleneagles Kuala Lumpur and Sunway Medical Centre being ranked among the World’s Best Hospitals 2024. MHTC is also expanding government-to-government collaborations with countries like the Maldives and those in the Middle East to attract more medical tourists by promoting specialized treatments.
(Sources: The Sun; Jakarta Post; Travel Weekly)
