Malaysia wants Chinese IVF medical tourists

Malaysia is targeting an estimated 90 million couples in China who are looking to conceive a second child. Of these, 40 million are over 40 years of age and may be less able to conceive naturally

The Malaysian Healthcare Travel Council (MHTC) sees opportunities for assisted reproductive technology where Malaysia has a competitive edge. The in vitro fertilisation (IVF) treatment success rate is among the highest in the world at 66% compared with the world average of 50%.

In 2016, the estimated revenue per medical tourist was just under RM1,300. IVF treatments can cost up to RM14,000 per patient. Cardiology treatments also typically involve higher-value procedures.

Targeting China is a potentially high reward strategy that needs considerable investment. Promoting Malaysia to the Chinese market will take up a fifth of MHTC’s budget this year due to its market size and unique social media platforms that require additional investment.

To support MHTC’s agenda, the government last October set aside RM30 million in its Budget 2018 to position Malaysia as a regional fertility and cardiology hub.

A total of 86 hospitals and clinics are recognised by the Malaysian Ministry of Health and MHTC as health tourism hospitals.

For 2018 a new flagship hospital programme will support selected hospitals to step up the internationalisation of individual organisations exemplifying enterprise, patient safety, quality care and service, quality management and service experience. MHTC is shortlisting candidates from its pool of 19 elite hospitals who are aggressively investing into medical tourism. The flagship hospitals will receive a number of incentives. The objective is to have standout hospital names that pop into people’s minds when thinking about Malaysia as a medical tourism destination. MHTC aims for not more than five flagship hospitals and the first flagship hospital will be announced in the second half of 2018.

View the IMTJ country report for further details about medical tourism in Malaysia.