Medical Tourism in Malaysia: The Lucrative Health Road Map
Malaysia is one of the
destinations that has experienced the fastest growth of health tourism in Asia
and is aimed primarily at Asians traveling for health reasons.
Patients from richer
Asian countries such as Singapore and Japan (second and third countries,
respectively, from which the largest number of international patients come),
visit Malaysia for the prices of medical procedures.
Australians and
citizens of the European Union are attracted by the low cost of Medical Tourism in Malaysia, while patients coming from the Middle East visit Malaysia for both the price and the quality of medical care. The country also offers special
services to Muslim tourists for their Halal treatment options, such as medicine
not derived from pork.
One type of
international tourism is skyrocketing relative to others, an article from ElaWoman
reveals. Behind the generic name of medical tourism there is a huge "cat's
bag". It covers not only traditional medicine but also an extensive range
of treatments under the label of "health and well-being". They range
from aesthetic to physical or spiritual relaxation.
The size of the market
It is no wonder that
countries with the trend are in an eager dispute with each other. After all,
there are 14 million patients crossing international borders every year. In
each trip spend an average of $ 3,800 and $ 6,000 - between medical expenses,
transportation and lodging. According to Lonely Planet, the segment expands to
enviable annual rates of 10%, in a market that has already reached 500 billion
dollars.
The champions of the sector
The United States leads
the world championship category with annual spending estimated at 200 billion
dollars, according to the Global Wellness Institute. It has also been possible
for US citizens to save medical expenses by up to 90% in India, 80% in Malaysia
and Thailand and 65% in Turkey.
The second place is
Germany, with expenses of the order of 60 billion dollars. China also has
accelerated growth, and from year to year it has doubled spending to $ 30
billion.
Who is the patient?
Potentially, there are
two groups interested in this type of international travel. On the one hand,
they are those who seek quality services not always available where they live.
On the other, those who run behind better costs and deadlines for their medical
needs.
The most frequent
treatments are dental, elective (non-emergency), fertility, and cosmetic
surgeries. Developed countries such as the United States, Germany, England,
Japan, Canada and France tend to attract patients interested in more advanced
treatments.
The main players
A Patient beyond
Borders publication has published a ranking of the top international
destinations for medical tourism. They are the United States, Mexico, Costa
Rica, Israel, India, Singapore, Malaysia, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand and
Turkey.
Brazil is unfortunately
not among the leading countries in medical tourism. It is a pity. After all,
along with treatments, international patients consume hotel, transportation,
food, tours, products and services. And who else would gain from it the economy
of the country.
