Bukit Mertajam , (Bernama) :
The Northern Corridor Implementation Authority (NCIA) is exploring the untapped medical tourism market in order to take the sector to greater heights.
Its chief executive, Datuk Redza Rafiq said the authority was always looking for ways to expand the health tourism sector as there was already a complete ecosystem in the northern region.
“We have a fantastic group of industry players that help us to grow and continue to innovate as well as evolved by adding greater range of services,” he told reporters after officiating the new physiotherapy centre, LivingWell Physio Centre, at Penang Adventist Hospital (PAH), here today.
Also present was PAH chief executive officer Dr Wesley Toh.
Redza said it was crucial for the supporting industries to grow in line with the expansion of orthopaedic, medical devices and wound care management amid the rising electrical and electronics industry.
He said there was greater demand for medical tourism as more people especially in Asia seek quality medical treatment due to increasing levels of affluence, urbanisation and life expectancy.
“We are in the Asian century and they have the spending power especially the generation Y in China, India and Indonesia. It was an untapped market we (NCIA) are exploring now,” Redza said.
On PAH’s new physiotherapy centre, Redza said it was one of the services that should be expanded under health tourism segment as it was a follow through medical service.
He said the initiative by PAH would contribute to NCIA’s target of creating 8,000 jobs and RM10 billion in private sector investments for this year.
NCIA has been collaborating closely with PAH on a few projects since last year to move the Penang health sector to greater heights
PAH is the second largest contributor to Penang health tourism, contributing 25 per cent of the total foreign patient arrivals in the state last year.
In 2012, a total of RM89.5 million in revenue was generated from 81,031 foreign patients.
Redza said the opening of LivingWell Physio Centre was timely as 20 per cent of PAH’s existing patients come from Bukit Mertajam and the surrounding areas.
source: http://www.bernama.com.my / National News Agency of Malaysia / Home> Business> News / May 10th, 2013
