Medical tourism refers to the practice of individuals who travel to another country to obtain medical treatments, surgeries, or procedures. People may engage in medical tourism due to various reasons, like cost savings, access to specialized or advanced medical care, reduced waiting times, and the opportunity to combine medical treatments with leisure activities. One of the best countries for medical tourism is Malaysia; it has been actively promoting its healthcare sector to attract international patients who seek medical treatments and procedures. Together with the state government’s determination to provide advanced medical technologies and services as well as its consistent newest medical breakthroughs, Malaysia succeeds in getting the top medical tourism destination rank in Asia, alongside India, Thailand, Singapore, and South Korea. Here are 12 reasons why Malaysia is often considered an attractive choice for medical tourism:

Known for offering high-quality medical services at a fraction of cost compared to Western countries, making Malaysia an affordable option for medical tourists. A medical center visit for a minor malady, like cold or sinus infection can cost about RM 46, while consultation with a specialist rings in at about RM 185, follow-up is at RM 69, and overnight stay costs around RM 231. For expats or foreigners, it is common to carry private medical insurance. It protects them against the long waiting times of the public facilities and has coverage from the moment they come to the country along with accessibility to the possible number of hospitals and clinics.

An agency established by the Ministry of Health, Malaysia Healthcare Travel Council (MHTC) has partnered with lots of hospitals and clinics accredited by international healthcare agencies, so the country has modern and well-equipped healthcare facilities that meet international standards. In addition, the government will issue automatic employment/professional passes for medical specialists who return from abroad to work in Malaysian hospitals. Hospital Rehabilitasi Cheras, Hospital Kuala Lumpur, and Sunway Medical Center are several top hospitals in Malaysia.

Malaysia has a pool of well-trained and qualified medical professionals, including doctors, surgeons, and supporting staff. According to the data from WHO and the Ministry of Health, Malaysia experiences the escalation of skilled health personnels; among them are dentists, doctors, pharmacists, assistant medical officers, nurses, and community nurses, with 67%-127% of increase from 2008-2018. The distribution also shows that the health workforce is predominantly female, implying that the healthcare system in Malaysia is female-friendly, for both the personnels themselves or the patients. Many of these professionals have also received training and experience abroad.

Malaysia offers a wide range of medical services, including specialized treatments and procedures. However, it is known for its fertility and cardiology treatments enabling the country to compete with the world-class medical centers across Asia. Malaysia has over 30 advanced heart treatment centers, including Cardiac Vascular Sentral Kuala Lumpur (CVSKL) having a reputation of being the best in the continent. Other cardiology hospitals, like Gleneagles Hospital and Pantai Hospital Kuala Lumpur are also top destinations for those seeking quality cardiology treatments. Further, the success rate of in vitro fertilization (IVF) in Malaysia is high, accomplished by several most excellent fertility centers, such as KL Fertility and Gynecology Centre, Sophea Fertility Centre, and many more.

Malaysia makes it suitable for medical tourism, since English is widely spoken in this country. Therefore, effective communication between the international patients and healthcare providers can be accomplished; it also reduces the potential of language barriers. However, in case those problems happen during the conversation, Malaysian healthcare personnels usually use non-verbal communication or interpreters to deliver the language during the meetings with the patients, or they are interested in learning the patients’ cultures; picking up a few English phrases, for example.

Malaysia’s diverse cultural environment can be appealing to international patients, providing a unique and enriching experience during their medical journey. Malay, Chinese, Indian, and indigenous cultures in this state create various cultural festivals, like Hari Raya Eid al-Fitr, Chinese New Year, Deepavali, etc; culinary delights, like nasi lemak, laksa, roti canai, and satay; modern and traditional arts, such as contemporary music, dance, and theater coexisting with traditional art forms wayang kulit or traditional music instruments. These diverse cultures constructing religious pluralism is also tempting for the international patients seeking for belief-based medical treatments.

Not only is Malaysia’s rich cultural heritage attractive to the medical patients, Malaysia’s tourist attractions, beautiful landscapes, and vibrant cities also enable them to combine medical care with leisure and tourism activities. There are a wide range of attraction options, from high to low intensities of outdoor and indoor activities; the tourists can choose whichever the patients and the families prefer or need. Petronas Towers, KLCC Park, Langkawi Sky Bridge and Cab, several historical sites, Taman Negara National Park, or Spa Resorts are some recommended places for the patients to visit. You can always go through Traveloka to find out the preferred activities.

The Malaysian government actively promotes and supports medical tourism as part of its economic development strategy. Initiatives have been implemented to enhance the overall experience for international patients. Following this, private and government-owned hospitals concentrate mainly in the states of Penang, Malacca, Selangor, Sarawak, and Johor. The government’s investment tax allowance also encourages healthcare facilities investing in internationally recognized accreditation schemes, technology-intensive, and world-class medical equipment ensuring certain care standards to attract medical tourists. At the end, all of these are hoped to reinforce the patients’ recoveries and well-being.

Malaysia has invested in advanced medical technology and innovation; the industry even comprises more than 200 manufacturers, of which 30 are multinationals making this state their manufacturing base. These include some reputable names, like Abbott, Toshiba Medical Systems, and Braun. The devices that the country produces are surgical tools, syringes and needles, orthopedic products, optical lenses, hospital furnitures, blood transfusion sets, dental dams, and first aid kits. With the government aiming to implement Industry 4.0 initiatives, Malaysian medical tourism is looking to shift production into more value-added products, enabling the access to cutting-edge treatments and procedures for the patients.

Malaysia’s strategic location in Southeast Asia and well-developed transportation infrastructure make it easily accessible for international patients traveling from various parts of the world. Almost all cities in Malaysia can be reached by air transport, especially Kuala Lumpur, Malacca, Johor, and Penang where most of the best medical facilities are located. Meanwhile, to reach cities like Sarawak and Selangor from Kuala Lumpur, you can take airport trains for about RM 49. Check the further info on Traveloka.

In addition to medical treatments, Malaysia is also known for its health and wellness tourism offerings, including spa retreats and holistic wellness programs. There are a wide range of spa resorts scattered in this state, including Johor, Selangor, Penang, Sabah, Kedah, Malacca, and many more. You only have to go through Traveloka to find out more about the resorts’ availability, rates, along with amenities. Several holistic wellness programs consisting of experiential meditation classes, transformational courses, organic products for personal beauty and home, healthy vegetarian food, healthcare packages, and other holistic lifestyle products are available in Malaysia. Keep an eye on their reliable official websites or social media to discover the most updated info.

There is a range of accommodation options, from budget friendly to luxury that provide patients with comfortable and convenient places to stay during their medical journey. Over 1600 hotels are available in Kuala Lumpur, 554 in Malacca, 657 in Penang, 663 in Sarawak, and more than 1000 in Selangor. With those numbers, the medical tourists along with their families can choose certain places to stay based on their personal desires. The data mentioned are taken from Traveloka with a vast range of types, price ranges, amenities, and star ratings.