Global Health Asia-Pacific issue 5 | Page 54

Flagship Medical Tourism Hospital Programme

Island Hospital

Penang ’ s future medical city for local and international patients
“ We believe that , as a finalist in the Flagship Medical Tourism Hospital Programme , we are in a better position to propel and push ourselves to achieve excellence .”

Over the past several decades , Island Hospital has made a name for itself as a leading medical tourism provider on the island of Penang , with over 1.5 million health travellers treated at the hospital in the last 25 years .

“ This long and established reputation as a trusted healthcare provider has been earned through decades of dedication and passion towards service and clinical excellence in treating our patients , both domestic and those from afar ,” Lim Kooi Ling , chief of staff at Island Hospital , told GlobalHealth Asia-Pacific .
In 2019 , close to 170,000 international patients were treated at Island Hospital or about half the total patient volume at the facility . The hospital ’ s medical tourists mostly hail from Indonesia , but patients from other countries in the Asia-Pacific also find the facility appealing for its variety of treatments in orthopaedics , gastroenterology , and general surgery as well as cardiology and oncology . Overseas patients can also benefit from an array of dedicated services , such as help with hotel and �ight bookings , airport transfers , foreign language translation , visa arrangements and extensions , and medical evacuation when needed .
Lim believes the Flagship Medical Tourism Hospital Programme will give Island Hospital a further boost to improve its services while increasing the number of international patients who check in at the hospital .
Lim Kooi Ling at the recent GlobalHealth Asia-Pacific Awards
“ We believe that , as a finalist in the Flagship Medical Tourism Hospital Programme , we are in a better position to propel and push ourselves to achieve excellence ,” she said . “ Having the even closer working relationship with the Ministry of Health , and especially the Malaysian Healthcare Travel Council , has been a great support in focusing and accelerating our initiatives .”
Aerial view of Georgetown , Penang
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