Medical tourists flock to Johor

An increasing number of overseas patients is checking in at hospitals in Johor Bahru, a southern Malaysian city close to Singapore, Channel News Asia reports.

Most of them are from Indonesia, Singapore, and China, while the most sought-after procedures include orthopaedic treatments, obstetric and gynaecological consultations, fertility and cancer care.

Serena Yong, Chief Executive for Johor-based Regency Hospital, told Channel News Asia the hospital treats about 200,000 patients a year, with 15 to 20 percent of them coming from overseas.

“We can see that the number of foreign patients has increased recently to beyond pre-pandemic levels. We are seeing more Singaporeans and Indonesians and this is very encouraging," said Yong.

Similarly, Columbia Asia Hospital has seen a “tremendous increase in foreign patients seeking treatment

after the pandemic was brought undercontrol.”

“The number of foreign patients from the likes of Indonesia, Singapore and China surged post pandemic and this has helped our business,” the hospital’s regional manager Rahani Yaakob told Channel News Asia.

In addition to the quality of care provided at its hospitals, geographical proximity to both Singapore and Indonesia and affordable healthcare costsmake Johor a go-to destination for Indonesians and Singaporeans.

“Putting aside government subsidies and the exchange rate, the cost of treatment is at least 50 per cent lower in Malaysia than in Singapore and some places in Indonesia,” Dr Teo Yin Keong, an oncologist at Gleneagles Medini, told Channel News Asia.


Article source: Issue 3: Global Health Asia-Pacific Medical Centre and Aesthetics Awards 2023