According to the leader of a well-known healthcare organization, the reopening of the nation's borders following the easing of the Covid-19 pandemic has rejuvenated the country's medical tourism industry.
The chairman of KPJ Healthcare, Datuk Md Ariff Mahmood, claimed that the reopening of the nation's borders allowed the sector to restore its supremacy, particularly through health tourists from neighboring nations.
At a press conference held yesterday following the formal opening of the newest facility in the healthcare network, Damansara Specialist Facility 2 (DSH2), he said, "These medical tourists returning to Malaysia are from the region, specifically Singapore and Indonesia."
Johor Ruler Sultan Ibrahim Ibni Almarhum Sultan Iskandar attended the launch.
By the end of the year, Md Ariff projects that 50% of DSH2's patients would be medical tourists, up from the current 30%.
The Star recently noted that 2022 revenue for Malaysia's healthcare travel business was over RM1.2 billion, indicating the sector's resurgence.
The country's borders were fully reopened to foreign travelers in April of last year after limitations put in place since March 2020 because of the global pandemic.
Before signing the plaque to commemorate the occasion, Sultan Ibrahim, who was there with Johor Mentri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi, was shown a brief movie on DSH2.
Later, His Majesty was given a tour of the modern hospital and given information on its amenities.
The 300-bed hospital has, among other things, seven operating rooms, 10 intensive care units, and 54 consultant suites.
The Damansara-Puchong Highway's Bukit Lanjan exit is home to an 11-story building that opened for business in September of last year.
JCorp President and Chief Executive Datuk Syed Mohamed Syed Ibrahim and Johor State Secretary Tan Sri Dr. Azmi Rohani were also in attendance.