Malaysia is one the fast emerging destinations for medical tourism in Asia for mostly Asian health travelers. According to the Association of Private Hospitals of Malaysia (APHM), the majority Malaysia's medical tourists
come from Indonesia mainly due to the superior quality of healthcare that Malaysia offers. The same reason draws health travelers from other Asian countries like Bangladesh and Pakistan.
Patients from richer Asian countries like Singapore and Japan, which are the second and third highest origins of medical travelers respectively, visit Malaysia due to lower prices of medical procedures.
Australians and people from the European Union are attracted to the low cost of medical procedures in Malaysia, while Middle Eastern medical travelers visit Malaysia for both the price and the quality of healthcare provided.
Healthcare System in Malaysia
The majority of hospitals offering services to medical tourists are privately owned institutions following internationally recognized standards in healthcare. Currently, there are at least 35 hospitals in Malaysia that are being geared for medical tourism. All are accredited locally by the
Malaysian Medical Society for Quality of Health (MSQH) and are licensed by the Malaysian Ministry of Health. Most of these hospitals are accredited by international bodies including the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and the Joint Commissions International (JCI) among others, making them at par with medical institutions in western countries.
Doctors and staff practicing at Malaysia international hospitals are English-speaking and internationally trained. Over 90 percent of these doctors were trained in the UK, USA or Australia, and in some cases are involved in international medical research.
Top Hospitals in Malaysia for Medical Tourism
- Penang Adventist Hospital
Jalan Burma, Malaysia
First accredited by the JCI on November 2007. Established in 1924, this not-for-profit hospital is fully owned and controlled by a Malaysian company and has grown ever since as a tertiary healthcare institution using up to date medical equipment and procedures.
- Prince Court Medical Center
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
First accredited by the JCI on December 2008. Privately owned by Petronas, the hospital boasts of a 300-bed state-of-the art medical center offering various healthcare services including cardiology, plastic surgery and wellness treatments.
- Twin Towers Medical Center
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Located in the hearth of Kuala Lumpur as the in-house medical facility in the Petronas Twin Tower complex, this medical center is the largest outpatient polyclinic in Malaysia's premiere commercial center, catering to both local and international patients.
- Institute Jantung Negara National Heart Institute
Also known as IJN, it is the leading heart institution in Malaysia offering advanced cardiovascular and thoracic health services to both adult and pediatric patients, working in conjunction with leading international medical organizations and using the latest techniques in heart care.
- International Specialist Eye Center (ISEC)
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
First accredited by the JCI on February 2009. An ambulatory surgical center or ASC, ISEC is Malaysia's premiere center for ophthalmology and eye care.
- Browse our list of hospitals in Malaysia.
Common Treatments done by Medical Tourists in Malaysia
Hospitals and healthcare facilities in Malaysia offer a wide array of procedures and services for medical travelers, which include but are not limited to the following:
Cost of Medical Treatment in Malaysia
The following are cost comparisons between Medical procedures in Malaysia and equivalent procedures in the UK and the United States: [Sources
1 2 ]
|
UK Hospitals |
Malaysia |
Average Savings |
| Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery |
|
|
|
| Face Lift (rhytidectomy) |
$11,000 - $12,000 |
$2,500 - $3,500 |
70% - 77% |
| Breast Augmentation (Mammoplasty) |
$7,000 - $8,000 |
$3,000 - $4,000 |
50% - 57% |
| Breast Reduction |
$8,000 - $9,000 |
$3,000 - $4,000 |
55% - 63% |
| Breast Lift |
$2,000 - $3,000 |
$900 - $1,000 |
55% - 67% |
| Tummy Tuck |
$6,000 - $7,000 |
$2,000 - $2,500 |
64% - 67% |
| Liposuction (lipoplasty) |
$5,000 - $6,000 |
$2,000 - $3.000 |
50% - 60% |
| Nose Surgery (Rhinoplasty) |
$5,500 - $6,500 |
$2,000 - $2,500 |
61% - 64% |
| General and Cosmetic Dentistry |
|
|
|
| Porcelain Bonded Crowns |
$950 - $1,000 |
$150 - $200 |
80% - 84% |
| Root Canal (per canal) |
$300 - $400 |
$200 - $250 |
33% - 38% |
|
US Hospitals |
Malaysia |
Average Savings |
| Medical Procedures |
|
|
|
| Angioplasty |
$55,000 - $57,000 |
$7,500 - $8,500 |
80% - 86% |
| Heart Bypass |
$120,000 - $130,000 |
$11,500 - $12,500 |
90% - 91% |
| Heart-valve Replacement |
$150,000 - $160,000 |
$14,500 - $15,500 |
90% - 91% |
| Hip Replacement |
$41,000 - $43,000 |
$9,500 - $10,500 |
75% - 77% |
| Hysterectomy |
$18,000 - $20,000 |
$3,500 - $4,500 |
77% - 81% |
| Knee Replacement |
$38,000 - $40,000 |
$7,500 - $8,500 |
78% - 80% |
| Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery |
|
|
|
| Face Lift (rhytidectomy) |
$7,000 - $9,000 |
$2,500 - $3,500 |
61% - 64% |
| Breast Augmentation (Mammoplasty) |
$5,000 - $8,000 |
$3,000 - $4,000 |
40% - 50% |
| Breast Reduction |
$4,000 - $6,000 |
$3,000 - $4,000 |
25% - 33% |
| Complete Liposuction (lipoplasty) |
$4,000 - $6,500 |
$2,000 - $3.000 |
50% - 53% |
| Nose Surgery (Rhinoplasty) |
$5,500 - $6,500 |
$2,000 - $2,500 |
61% - 63% |
| General and Cosmetic Dentistry |
|
|
|
| Root Canal |
$600 - $1,000 |
$200 - $250 |
67% - 75% |
| Porcelain Crown |
$600 - $1,000 |
$150 - $200 |
75% - 80% |
Malpractice and Liabilities Laws in Malaysia
Statistics from 2004 have indicated that at least 50 percent of private medical practitioners in Malaysia had
no medical indemnity cover cover, although the Ministry of Health in Malaysia have declared an increasing trend in the amount of compensation paid by the Malaysian government for liability cases since the year 2000. At present, the Malaysian government follows the Tort system for the control and regulation of litigation cases due to medical malpractice of negligence, wherein compensation is paid only for proven negligent cases.
Pros
State of the art medical, healthcare and diagnostic facilities
Competitive prices of medical procedures and treatments
English-speaking, highly trained and qualified medical specialists and staff
Strict adherence to internationally recognized quality medical standards
Affordable accommodations and favorable tourism destinations suitable for post-surgery recovery
Cons
Terrorist activities and kidnapping of tourists is still a primary concern particularly in certain areas in the country, which are geared for western visitors and tourists
Traveling to Malaysia
There are six international airports in Malaysia catering to more than 35 international carriers from anywhere around the world, making it very accessible from neighboring Asian countries as well as from outside the continent.
Average estimated travel time in hours
| From/To |
Malaysia |
| New York City |
20 |
| Los Angeles |
19 |
| London |
12 |
| Singapore |
1 |
| Jakarta |
2 |
| Dubai |
7 |
| Riyadh |
7 |
| Bangladesh |
3 |
| Pakistan |
5 |
| Tokyo |
6.5 |
| Sydney |
8 |
Entry and Exit Requirements to Malaysia
There are various visa requirements to Malaysia depending on the country of origin. Length of stay is typically 1 to 3 months; however extensions may be available upon request to the Malaysian High Commission.
The following is a brief summary of visa requirements from prominent nations where most medical tourists are coming from (October 2009):
- No Visa Requirements:
- UK and British Commonwealth / protected countries
- United States of America
- Switzerland
- Netherlands
- No Visa Requirements depending on maximum length of stay:
- 3 months maximum:
Albania, Algeria, Argentina, Austria, Bahrain, Belgium, Brazil, Bosnia Herzegovina, Chile, Croatia, Cuba, Czech Republic, Denmark, Egypt, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Kyrgyzstan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Luxembourg, Norway, Oman, Peru, Poland, Qatar, Romania, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Slovakia, Tunisia, Turkey, U.A.E., Uruguay, and Yemen.
- 1 month maximum:
Asean Countries, Hong Kong, Macau, British National Overseas and North Korea
- 14 days maximum:
Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq, Libya, Syria, Macau (travel permit) and Portugal Alien Passport.
- Needs Malaysian Visa for a stay exceeding one month:
- Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, Myanmar, Indonesia, Cambodia and the Philippines
- Needs Malaysian Visa for Entry
- Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, India, Nepal, Nigeria, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Angola, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Congo Republic, Cote D'Ivoire, Djibouti, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Guinea Republic, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Madagascar, Mali, Mauritania, Mozambique, Rwanda, Senegal, Western Sahara, Taiwan
- Special Approval Required
- Citizens of Israel and Yugoslavia
Statistics of Malaysia Medical Tourism
The amount of medical tourists to Malaysia in 2007 has tripled since 2003, with figures already reaching more than 282,000 for the first nine months of 2008 alone, which is 16 percent higher than in 2007. The 2007 figures indicate Indonesia at the top of the list accounting for 72 percent of foreign patients to Malaysia, followed by 10 percent from Singapore and another 5 percent from Japan.
HealthCare Patients Visiting Malaysia according to the Association of Private Hospitals of Malaysia (APHM):
| 2003 |
2004 |
2005 |
2006 |
2007 |
| 102,946 |
174,189 |
232,161 |
296,687 |
341,288 |
Malaysia Medical Tourism Patients by to Country of Origin (Year: 2007)
| Indonesia |
Singapore |
Japan |
India |
Europe |
Others |
| 72% |
10% |
5% |
4% |
3% |
6% |