To further nurture this growth, the Malaysian government has set a national goal of becoming the international hub for medical tourism within 20 years. The Malaysian Ministry of Health (MMoH) launched the Malaysia Healthcare Travel Council (MHTC) in 2009, dedicated to the improvement and promotion of foreigner healthcare services within Malaysia.

Medical Tourism Growth

The medical tourism scene in Malaysia has enjoyed much success and growth in recent years, due to a wealth of factors such as favourable exchange rates, strong government and infrastructure support, status as both an Islamic and English-speaking nation, stable climate and geographical proximity to nations with affluent spenders.

The Malaysia Healthcare Travel Council (MHTC) estimates an ever increasing rate in the number of visitors to Malaysia.

Visitor Breakdown

Indonesia, Middle Eastern countries (predominantly Saudi Arabia & Libya) takes the lead , with China records the highest regional 5-year growth rate. With an estimated Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 13%, this figure is estimated to increase dramatically by 2018, entrenching its position as one of the top 3 medical tourism destinations in the world.

Culture and Heritage

Malaysia’s rich Islamic culture and heritage has attracted outbound patients from the Middle Eastern region, particularly Iran, Saudi Arabia and Libya.

Growth Factors

Factors that facilitate this continuous growth include the availability of a comprehensive healthcare infrastructure, favourable exchange rates, lower operational costs (compared to the US and United Nations) government support through promotional programmes, as well as skilled medical professionals.