Did you know Malaysia has some of the best-trained doctors and hospitals?
- Best doctors trained in the US, UK or Australia, and English-speaking
- Strong Western accreditation of hospitals
- Popular treatments include cosmetic surgery, dental work and dermatology
- Growth in medical tourism
A well-regarded American magazine dedicated to the best places for expatriate living or retirement, International Living in its report titled ‘4 Countries with the Best Healthcare in the World‘ has placed Malaysia first, ahead of Costa Rica, Colombia and Mexico, for best healthcare in the world.
The magazine reported that Malaysia has some of the best-trained doctors in Asia, with the majority of them trained in the US, UK or Australia. That the doctors speak English is another plus point.
The report highlighted the strong Western accreditation of hospitals, which may surprise many Malaysians, with numerous facilities in Penang and Kuala Lumpur among Southeast Asia’s first recipients of the United States’ prestigious Joint Commission International (JCI) certification. Seen as the gold standard for healthcare service providers around the world, Malaysia has no less than eight JCI-accredited hospitals. Even ‘not for profit’ hospitals such as The Lam Wah Ee Hospital in Penang were commended.
According to the report, the most popular areas of treatment include cosmetic surgery, dental work, and dermatology.
It’s no wonder then that Malaysia has become a sought-after destination in medical tourism, with more than one million medical tourist arrivals from around the globe in 2016. For 2017, the Malaysia Healthcare Travel Council (MHTC) expects a 20-30% growth, with RM1.3 billion in revenue.