MEDICAL TOURISM WILL NOT AFFECT LOCAL HEALTHCCARE, D-G ASSURES

PUTRAJAYA, July 21 (Bernama) -- Malaysia's efforts to promote its medical tourism amongst foreigners will not affect the quality of healthcare now being enjoyed by locals, the Health Director-General Dr Mohd Ismail Merican assured Tuesday.

He said the main provider for the healthcare tourism services was the
private sector and many private hospitals were already attracting considerable
numbers of foreigners seeking quality healthcare at affordable price.

Ismail assured that the government would be very careful in implementing the
initiative and conditions would be imposed on those providing healthcare
services for foreigners.

He was commenting on reservations by doctors and non-governmental
organisations that overemphasis on medical tourism by the government would
result in poor healthcare for the locals as resources would be diluted.
--BERNAMA