Johor aims 100 per cent increase in medical tourism

JOHOR BAHRU, July 18 (Bernama) -- The Johor government is targeting a 100 per cent increase in the number of tourists arriving in the state for medical treatment this year.

Menteri  Besar Datuk Osman Sapian said Johor recorded 20 million tourist arrivals last year with 60,000 of them coming to the state to seek medical treatment at private hospitals in the state.

"The tourists are not only from states in Malaysia, but also from other countries, such as Indonesia, Thailand and the Philippines.

"This is because of the quality of the medical service and its cost, which is lower compared to others," he said at the opening of a new ward at the Johor KPJ Specialist Hospital here today.

Also present were State Health, Environment and Agriculture Committee chairman Dr Sahruddin Jamal and  KPJ Healthcare Berhad managing director Datuk Amiruddin Abdul Satar.

--BERNAMA