One in five HMI patients in Malaysia is a medical tourist

20% of patients in HMI hospitals in Malaysia are medical tourists and numbers are growing.

Health Management International (HMI), which is expanding its two hospitals in Malaysia to increase capacity. HMI currently has a 49% stake in the 270-bed Mahkota Medical Centre in Malacca as well as a 61% stake in the 200-bed Regency Specialist Hospital in Johor Bahru. It runs both, and 2015 saw over 400,000 patients, including 80,000 medical tourists.

Increasing affluence, an ageing population and growing use of private healthcare by the middle class are all increasing demand.

HMI expects to see continued growth in medical tourist numbers, with international patients accounting for one in five patients now. The group is working on improving the way it reaches out to foreign patients. Indonesia is an important market due to the cultural similarities between Indonesia and Malaysia. More people from Singapore are going to Malaysia for elective treatments and health screenings at Medisave accredited hospitals.

Mahkota is adding 90 beds and nuclear medicine, which uses radioactive material to diagnose or treat diseases. At Regency Specialist, the group plans to build a new medical block by 2018, which will double capacity by adding more beds, as well as inpatient and outpatient facilities. HMI is looking for investment opportunities in Malaysia.

HMI has targeted medical tourists by setting up 14 representative offices in Indonesia to drive traffic to the hospital.