Malaysia is banking on medical travel as an economic driver due to its strategic location in the region and accessibility to the Middle East, according to the country’s human resources minister Datuk Dr Subramaniam. He attributed the industry’s progress to factors such as affordable professional treatments and the abundance of world-leading medical facilities.The government’s Health Tourism Programme, he noted, clearly supported the push to attract overseas patients. 

Penang, already a well-known tourist destination in the peninsula, is fast building a reputation as a mecca for improvement, buoyed by the presence of quality healthcare institutions and attractions of beach and unique cuisine. In 2011, the Farrali International Specialist Hospital and Wellness Resort will heighten its appeal, offering both western and eastern therapies. Set to open in Batu Kawan, site of the second Penang Bridge, connecting the mainland to Batu Maung on Penang Island, it is minutes from the Penang International Airport in Bayan Lepas.

The 60,703-square-metre hospital intends to lead in the areas of diabetes and cancer care while providing complementary healing methods, including acupuncture and Ayurveda. Close to the hospital will be a 200-room, five-star resort, 30 water chalets and serviced apartments catering to the needs of patients and their families. Other facilities including a spa, restaurants, recreational facilities, retail outlets, herbal farm and an institute run by an established international nursing college.