Medical tourism attracts Indonesians to Malaysia, says ambassador


Indonesians account for more than 60% of medical tourists to Malaysia. – The Malaysian Insight file pic, June 1, 2023.

AS the region continues to recover from the Covid-19 epidemic, the number of Indonesians travelling to Malaysia, especially for medical tourism, is expected to rise, diplomat Syed Md Hasrin Tengku Hussin said.

The ambassador of Malaysia to Indonesia said 300,000 of the 1.5 million Indonesian visitors to Malaysia last year were here for medical treatment.

“In terms of health cooperation, Malaysia and Indonesia have worked together on a variety of projects, including research and development initiatives in both modern technology and traditional medicine for infectious illnesses.

“Others include training and education programmes as well as disease control and prevention,” he said today at the Malaysia Healthcare Expo in Bandung, Indonesia.

Over the past decade, Malaysia has become a destination of choice for Indonesians seeking medical care. Indonesians make up more than 60% of Malaysia’s medical tourists.

Medical tourists from China, Australia, Singapore, the United Kingdom, and other countries are also drawn to Malaysia for fertility treatments and cardiology, orthopaedics, ophthalmology, oncology, neurology and dentistry care, as well as health examinations.

“This reflects the international medical tourism industry’s belief in the quality of healthcare in Malaysia as an alternative to treatment they receive in their home countries,” said Syed Md Hasrin. 

Also present at the expo were Tourism Malaysia director in Jakarta Junus Suhid, the embassy’s consular and immigration adviser Mohamad Nurzaini Kasi, and the embassy’s first secretary Ammil Afiq Jasimi. 

The three-day expo that ends Sunday showcases medical tourism offers from 20 private healthcare facilities in Malaysia. – Bernama, June 1, 2023.



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