Malaysia is now ranked as one of the world’s top five medical tourism destinations according to Nuwire Investors. The ranking is based on the quality and affordability of medical care as well as receptiveness to foreign investment. Based on these criteria, Malaysia was ranked third, behind Panama(1), Brazil(2) and ahead of Costa Rica(4) and India(5).
According to the report, Malaysia’s medical tourism industry has seen staggering growth over recent years. The number of foreigners seeking healthcare services in Malaysia has grown from 75,210 patients in 2001 to 296,687 patients in 2006. The large volume of patients in 2006 brought approximately US$59 million in revenue. The Association of Private Hospitals Malaysia has projected that the number of foreigners seeking medical treatment in Malaysia will continue to grow at a rate of 30 percent a year until 2010.