Malaysia ranked world's 6th-best medical tourism destination, led by Penang

 

State Tourism and Creative Economy Committee chairman Wong Hon Wai described the achievement as a proud moment for both the nation and the state. NSTP / AURIS FAQRURAZZI

GEORGE TOWN: Malaysia has been ranked the world's sixth-best medical tourism destination, with Penang continuing to lead the country's healthcare travel sector. 

State Tourism and Creative Economy Committee chairman Wong Hon Wai described the achievement as a proud moment for both the nation and the state. 

"Congratulations, Malaysia, and congratulations, Penang!

"The latest ranking of the world's Top 10 Medical Tourism Destinations is a proud achievement that reflects the collective efforts of Malaysia's healthcare system, tourism industry and government agencies over many years. 

"Malaysia has emerged as one of Asia's leading medical tourism destinations, supported by internationally accredited hospitals, English-speaking healthcare professionals, modern medical technologies, affordable healthcare services and strong government support," he said in a Facebook post.

According to the 2026 Global Top 10 Medical Tourism Destinations ranking published by Travel And Tour World, Turkey topped the list, followed by Thailand, India, Mexico, South Korea, Malaysia, Costa Rica, Singapore, the United Arab Emirates and Colombia. 

The report said Turkey secured first place due to its affordable treatment costs, advanced medical technologies and high-quality healthcare services, while Malaysia's ranking was driven by its internationally accredited hospitals, English-speaking medical workforce and well-developed medical tourism ecosystem. 

It also noted that Malaysia is particularly sought after for cardiology, oncology, fertility treatments, orthopaedics, cosmetic and plastic surgery, dental care, ophthalmology, health screening, rehabilitation services and wellness programmes. 

According to the latest figures, Malaysia's medical tourism revenue increased 23.2 per cent to RM3.35 billion in 2025 from RM2.72 billion in 2024. 

The number of medical tourists also grew 15.6 per cent to 1.85 million in 2025 from 1.6 million a year earlier, reflecting continued international confidence in the country's healthcare services and competitive pricing. 

Wong said Penang remained Malaysia's leading medical tourism destination, contributing about 45 per cent of the country's total medical tourism revenue. 

Data from the Penang Centre of Medical Tourism (PMED), covering 16 private hospitals in the state, showed Penang received 527,176 foreign patients in 2025, up 25.94 per cent from 418,608 in 2024. 

Medical tourism revenue in the state rose 26.6 per cent to RM1.137 billion in 2025 from RM898.07 million the previous year. 

"Penang's sustained leadership is driven by several key advantages, particularly its ability to provide exceptional value for money through high-quality healthcare services at competitive prices. 

"Compared with Singapore and many Western countries, patients can enjoy substantial cost savings while receiving internationally recognised standards of care. 

"We also have a significant multilingual advantage. Penang's population is proficient in Malay, English, Mandarin, Tamil and Chinese dialects including Hokkien, Teochew, Hakka and Cantonese, enabling effective communication with international patients. 

"For Indonesian patients, especially those from Medan who commonly speak Hokkien, language barriers are minimal. 

This enhances their overall experience and further strengthens Penang's position as the preferred medical tourism destination for Indonesian patients," he added.

-nst online.