Malaysia eyes attracting more foreigners for healthcare travel

Malaysia is promoting its hospitals and clinics as new tourism attractions besides tropical islands, fascinating beaches and rainforest, in an effort to brand the country as a healthcare travel destination.

Malaysian Health Minister Liow Tiong Lai said on Tuesday that high-quality and reasonable rates of the country's medical service is attracting more and more foreigner, with the number of foreign patients arrival achieved a impressive 48 percent increase to 583, 000 in 2011 compared with the previous year.

The most appealing medical services is knee replacement, followed by cardiac care and cancer treatment, Liow said when opening the International Healthcare Travel Expo 2012, adding that Malaysia is "fast being recognized for the quality of its orthopedic treatment."

Malaysian government is working to position the country as a preferable healthcare destination in the region. Liow said Malaysia Healthcare Travel Council, an agency established by the government to develop and promote the healthcare travel industry, had set up a hotline for global enquiry.

The agency has opened representative offices in Dhaka, Bangladesh and in Jakarta, Indonesia, while its Hong Kong office would be operational next year, Liow said. A medical gallery would also be set up at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport and similar facilities might be put in place at other important gateways to the country.

Liow later told a press conference that his ministry was looking at the Korea, Bangladesh, Nepal, Myanmar and China as increasing health tourists influx from these countries.

Meanwhile, Malaysia would promote traditional treatments like acupuncture from China besides modern medicine, he said.