New hospital sets to make Kedah a medical tourism destination

Mohd Asmirul Anuar Aris

ALOR SETAR, March 5 (Bernama) -- A new private hospital will be developed here towards realising the state government’s aspiration of making Kedah a medical tourism destination in the country.

Kedah Youth and Sports, Tourism, Arts and Culture and Entrepreneur Development committee chairman Mohd Asmirul Anuar Aris said work on the hospital is scheduled to begin end of the year and when completed, is also expected to make Alor Setar a Medical Tourism City.

He said a private company, Bumi Barakah Development Sdn Bhd, had obtained approval from the Ministry of Health to build the hospital, which will have 180 beds and involves investment of RM200 million.

The hospital will be built near the Tabung Haji Hotel & Convention Centre here as we also want to focus on the mainland for tourism, not just Langkawi, he told a press conference here today.

Earlier, Mohd Asmirul Anuar witnessed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Bumi Aviation Sdn Bhd/Bumi Barakah Development Sdn Bhd, represented by Bumi Aviation managing director Abdul Wahab Mat Isa, and BCS Contract Supply & Service Sdn Bhd, represented by MJets International and BCS Contract Supply & Service Sdn Bhd chief executive officer Nazaruddin Mohd.

Through the MoU, the company will work together to develop Alor Setar as a hub for medical tourism and air cargo.

-- BERNAMA