Malaysia: Encouragement to Enhance Malaysian healthcare travel industry
The Malaysian government has recognized healthcare travel as one of the potential services sub-sectors to generate national economic growth. Malaysia is fast-gaining recognition as a preferred destination for healthcare travellers.
Medical tourists grew at an average of 30% per annum while revenue grew at an average of 35%. During the first half of 2009, the promoted hospitals recorded 165,095 foreign patients. Estimates for 2010 are 625,000 medical tourists.
The 2010 Budget includes an enhanced tax incentive for healthcare service providers who offer services to foreign health tourists. Income tax exemption of 50 % on the value of increased exports is increased to 100 %. This enables healthcare service providers to offer high quality health services and attract more health tourists. The establishment of the Malaysia Healthcare Travel Council (MHTC) will bring together the efforts of significant players in the Malaysian healthcare travel industry, both in government and in the private sector, to drive growth of this industry to a higher level.
Foreign patients entering Malaysia for medical treatment on emergency via Visa-On-Arrival will be permitted to convert their VOA status to social visit pass upon recommendation of private hospitals registered under the Ministry of Health for promotion of healthcare travel; and approval of extension of stay for medical tourist at the state level will be accelerated.
Source: imtjonline
