As Malaysia is making its way towards becoming the most sophisticated health care hub, the Health Minister is aiming to attract more than 437,000 tourists to experience what the local healthcare industry has to offer. The Deputy Health Minister, Datuk Rosnah Abdul Rashid Shirlin is hoping that the health care sector will help country in generating an income about RM431 million this year.

It has come to light that last year, about 392,956 travelers came to Malaysia seeking medical care. This year, between January and March, the number of tourists seeking medical care was 112,951 which generated an income of RM105 million. It indicates that in the coming year the number of tourists seeking medical care will be doubled.

Meanwhile, it has emerged that partnership between Malaysia and Singapore healthcare facility has given give rise to the increase in number of referrals made by Malaysian hospitals to Singapore and vice versa. A study conducted by Frost & Sullivan has revealed that the numbers of Malaysian patients coming to Singapore and their total expenditure has grown sharply between 2005 and 2009.

In 2009, the total revenue contributed by medical travelers from Malaysia came to $89.5 million, from $13.3 million in 2005, while their numbers increased to 60,000, from 33,750. This is about 15% of the total estimated 400,000 foreign patients seen in 2009. As a percentage of total revenue collected from medical tourism, Malaysian patients accounted for 12.22% in 2009, up from 2.3% in 2005.