ID :
188886
Thu, 06/16/2011 - 05:13
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/188886
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NEW STRATEGY TO DEVELOP HEALTHCARE TRAVEL INDUSTRY
The Ministry of Health reviewed and added seven new hospitals and eight new ambulatory-care facilities to 35 existing private hospitals in a bid to compete in the regional and global healthcare tourism industry, said Minister Liow Tong Lai.
Liow said the new criteria for selecting private healthcare facilities would ensure that Malaysia could offer a range of services at affordable prices. These include healthcare-screening; complex treatments such as cardiothoracic, hand & micro surgery; and post-treatment such as physiotherapy.
“I was informed that Bumrunggrad Hospital in Bangkok, a 400-bed hospital, attracts 400,000 medical tourists annually, more than the number of medical tourists who come to the rest of the country,” he said.
“Singapore, Thailand and India have captured a large portion of the
healthcare travel industry in this region. Countries like Indonesia, South Korea and the Philippines are also looking at venturing into this industry in a big way,” Liow said in his speech at the presentation of certificates to private healthcare facilities registered for healthcare travel promotion, Wednesday.
Malaysia attracted 392,956 healthcare travellers last year, garnering revenue of RM379 million (US$124.649 million).
Liow said the Malaysia Healthcare Travel Council (MHTC) was formulating strategic plans to promote the industry and trying to resolve issues affecting it.
“MHTC is in the process of setting up a one-stop call centre where all enquiries can be directed, and channelled to the respective healthcare facilities, based on the need of the caller,” he added.
He also urged unaccredited hospitals to get accreditation by Dec 31 this year. He said the process would take two years for new hospitals.
Expenses incurred for hospital accreditation were eligible for double deduction under the Income Tax Act of 1967, he added.
“With the expansion of the healthcare travel industry, jobs will also be created. It is the aspiration of the government that 5,300 new jobs be created in the healthcare travel industry, under the NKEA (National Key Economic Area) initiative by 2020,” he said.
Liow said the new criteria for selecting private healthcare facilities would ensure that Malaysia could offer a range of services at affordable prices. These include healthcare-screening; complex treatments such as cardiothoracic, hand & micro surgery; and post-treatment such as physiotherapy.
“I was informed that Bumrunggrad Hospital in Bangkok, a 400-bed hospital, attracts 400,000 medical tourists annually, more than the number of medical tourists who come to the rest of the country,” he said.
“Singapore, Thailand and India have captured a large portion of the
healthcare travel industry in this region. Countries like Indonesia, South Korea and the Philippines are also looking at venturing into this industry in a big way,” Liow said in his speech at the presentation of certificates to private healthcare facilities registered for healthcare travel promotion, Wednesday.
Malaysia attracted 392,956 healthcare travellers last year, garnering revenue of RM379 million (US$124.649 million).
Liow said the Malaysia Healthcare Travel Council (MHTC) was formulating strategic plans to promote the industry and trying to resolve issues affecting it.
“MHTC is in the process of setting up a one-stop call centre where all enquiries can be directed, and channelled to the respective healthcare facilities, based on the need of the caller,” he added.
He also urged unaccredited hospitals to get accreditation by Dec 31 this year. He said the process would take two years for new hospitals.
Expenses incurred for hospital accreditation were eligible for double deduction under the Income Tax Act of 1967, he added.
“With the expansion of the healthcare travel industry, jobs will also be created. It is the aspiration of the government that 5,300 new jobs be created in the healthcare travel industry, under the NKEA (National Key Economic Area) initiative by 2020,” he said.
