Medical Tourism News
Emirates launches
second service to
Malaysia
Penang flights will be a boon for medical
tourists seeking treatment in Penang
E
Bangkok named
top medical tourism
destination
Six out of world’s top 10 cities are found in Asia
H
ealthcare travel book Patients Beyond Borders has revealed
its latest picks for the top global medical tourism destinations,
naming Thailand’s capital, Bangkok, as the world leader.
The annual publication singled Bangkok out for its expertise in
cosmetic surgery and restorative dentistry, as well as its strength in
clinical treatments, calling the city the world’s “epicentre of medical
tourism.”
“What’s not to like about recovering from a medical procedure in a
world-class Thai resort hotel or spa — at unbeatable prices?” it wrote,
adding that American patients could expect savings of 50-75 percent if
they have treatment done in Bangkok.
Elsewhere, Kuala Lumpur was the second highest-placed Asian
destination, ranking fifth on the list.
“While most Asia-bound health travel is to India or Thailand,
Malaysia is now firmly on the medical travel charts,” the authors wrote.
“Malaysia is one of the world’s leading medical value destinations,
where patients can realise up to 80 percent savings on a wide range of
procedures and treatments in first-class hospitals and clinics.”
Asian cities accounted for six of the top 10 destinations on this
year’s list, with Mumbai placing sixth, followed by Seoul, Bali, and
Istanbul. Elsewhere, the Hungarian capital, Budapest, found itself
runner up to Bangkok, while the Mexican resort city of Cancún
notched up a third place.
According to Patients Beyond Borders, more than 85 percent of all
medical travel is to a handful of metropolitan centres around the globe
featured on its list.
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MARCH 2020
mirates airline has opened a second daily service
from Dubai to Malaysia, which will help patients
in the United Arab Emirates to travel to Penang for
treatment more easily.
Penang will become the airline’s second
destination in Malaysia after its capital, Kuala Lumpur,
which the airline currently serves with three flights a
day on a route that has been operating since 1996.
Besides its appeal to tourists, Penang is also
considered a centre for medical tourism, with a
number of hospitals vying for overseas patients.
“Penang is a major centre for tourism, business
travel, and medical tourism, and the increased levels
of inbound travel are consistent with the growth in
numbers of visitors to the country,” Adnan Kazim,
chief commercial officer at Emirates, said in a
statement.
“The introduction of flights to Penang will help us
meet growing demand from travellers both to and
from Malaysia.”
The medical tourism scene in Malaysia is booming.
In 2018, approximately 1.2 million people visited the
country to seek medical treatment, and the number is
growing.
Within Malaysia, Penang is the top medical tourism
destination. The northern state generates 40 to 50
percent of the country’s medical tourism income.
In 2017 alone, Penang’s healthcare industry
generated some US$165 million in revenue, according
to data from the Malaysia Healthcare Travel Council.
Medical tourists are attracted to the island for a
number of reasons, including its relatively affordable
private hospitals, their niche marketing strategy, and
Penang’s supporting infrastructure of reasonably
priced hotels.
GlobalHealthAndTravel.com