Executive Director

Malaysia is well-recognised around the world as a health tourism destination with International Living magazine declaring it the top destination for medical tourism in 2017. With mounting healthcare costs in Western countries, cheaper air travel and increasingly attractive exchange rates, it is no wonder medical tourism is thriving, especially in Penang, where nearly 50% of Malaysia’s medical tourism receipts are generated.

Penang is a small island state with huge offerings. In addition to a multitude of distinguished medical institutions offering a full range of top-notch medical services, it is also a haven for shopping, food, multicultural heritage and so much more. Its capital, George Town, is a UNESCO World Heritage site. This booklet is compiled to provide you with useful key information of some of the top medical institutions here as well as to help navigate this exciting place with ease.

Furthermore, the economic benefits cascade down to every individual within the sector, including tour guides, taxi drivers, waitstaff, chefs, hotel employees, tourism attraction personnel, retailers, nurses, doctors, and more.

The volume and influx of patients also empower our private hospitals to procure medical equipment and devices that might not be financially viable with our relatively small local population. Consequently, local patients can also reap the advantages associated with economies of scale, made feasible through the sophisticated technology acquired for the treatment of foreign patients.

Despite the global slowdown in medical tourism due to the Covid-19 pandemic, Penang’s pool of healthcare professionals and expertise remains committed to pursuing industry excellence, thereby preserving our esteemed reputation as a world-class medical hub. Ultimately, we aspire to see Penang’s medical tourism continue to thrive, bolstering our economy and elevating the level of expertise available through the continual and consistent treatment of foreign patients.