Latest news with #Kuljit
The Star
3 days ago
- Health
- The Star
M'sia leads medical tourism charge
PETALING JAYA: From the Maldives to mainland China, foreigners are drawn to the world-class healthcare offered by private hospitals in the country, says Association of Private Hospitals Malaysia president Datuk Dr Kuljit Singh (pic). Apart from being cost-effective, these foreign patients were keen on the transparent healthcare plans offered by Malaysian private hospitals, he said. Another plus factor for them was the ease of communication as English is widely spoken, he said in an interview. Last Wednesday, the Health Ministry announced that Malaysia has been ranked as the top destination for medical tourism based on quality, infrastructure, cost-effectiveness and ease of access by Nomad Capitalist, a Dubai-based wealth consultancy firm. Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad said in a Facebook post that Malaysia's medical tourism sector generated about RM2bil in revenue in 2023, with 1.3 million foreigners seeking treatment in the country. Dr Kuljit told The Star that foreign nationalities who sought treatment are mainly from Indonesia, China, Bangladesh and the Maldives. The rest are from Europe and the United States. 'We are way more affordable compared to our neighbouring countries and far cheaper than western countries,' he said, estimating that foreign patients seeking treatment in Malaysia would be paying 20% to 50% lower than elsewhere. 'For those from the US, the savings could be up to 70% compared to what they would need to fork out in their own country.' He said foreign patients seek a variety of treatments ranging from simple health screening to sophisticated interventions. Dr Kuljit said that being a predominantly Muslim country was also advantageous as it was a plus point for Muslim patients. 'Another factor that has earned the trust and confidence of international patients are Malaysia's strict healthcare standards and accreditation with global medical bodies. 'They are treated with care and only discharged when they are fit to leave the facility,' he added. However, while medical care is seamlessly rendered, Dr Kuljit acknowledged that the biggest challenge private hospitals face is inadequate capacity for inpatients. 'A shortage of manpower such as nurses is an issue,' he said. Furthermore, he said restrictions and conditions imposed on private hospitals that curtail healthcare costs can prove to be a hindrance to the growth of medical tourism. But in the long term, he said Malaysia's future as a medical tourism hub remains bright as the projected number of patients exceeds targets annually. 'I am confident that Malaysia's reputation as one of the leading medical tourism destinations in the world will only continue to grow in leaps and bounds as private hospitals in Malaysia remain committed to delivering reliable, world-class care to Malaysians first and foremost and to the rest of the world,' he added. Dr Kuljit said Malaysians no longer need to travel abroad in search of premium healthcare. 'However, these advantages are sometimes overlooked by Malaysians and lead to a misunderstanding of the role of private hospitals. There is a mistaken notion that the services offered are medical tourism-oriented and solely driven by profit,' he said. He explained that private hospitals strive to improve continuously to meet world-class standards that benefit both the local population and medical tourists. Asked if private hospitals would extend their services to low-income Malaysians as part of their corporate social responsibility since they have earned revenue from medical tourism, he said such initiatives will be further enhanced if private hospitals managed to increase capacity. 'We are happy to work with the public healthcare system and conduct such programmes but we need to have greater capacity and manpower,' he said.
The Star
07-05-2025
- Health
- The Star
Increase training capacity to resolve shortage, say experts
PETALING JAYA: Authorities must act decisively by expanding specialist training programmes and offering better incentives to address the ongoing shortage of medical professionals, experts say. Malaysian Association for Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery honorary secretary Prof Dr John Chan Kok Meng said specialist training was previously confined to universities through their Masters programmes. 'However, the universities and university teaching hospitals have limited capacity. 'The amendment to the Medical Act 1971 last year now permits the Health Ministry to offer specialist training in its hospitals via a parallel pathway, significantly increasing the country's training capacity,' he said yesterday. Despite this progress, Dr Chan expressed concern that the amended Medical Act has yet to be enforced, highlighting the urgency of its implementation. 'Until last year, the criteria for specialist registration were also very restrictive. In cardiothoracic surgery, for example, only four qualifications were recognised – one each from the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom and Australia. 'Without one of these qualifications, practising as a specialist in cardiothoracic surgery in Malaysia was impossible,' he said. Fortunately, the amendment to the Medical Act 1971 has expanded this list. 'Now, eight qualifications in cardiothoracic surgery are recognised. 'More importantly, the Malaysian Medical Council can now recognise specialists trained elsewhere, providing flexibility in registering specialists and moving beyond the previous restrictive list,' Dr Chan added. Private Hospitals Malaysia Association president Datuk Dr Kuljit Singh said private hospitals experience varied demands for specialists, influenced by location and the type of specialities offered. 'Some private hospitals are multi-discipline, while others are more general, affecting their staffing needs. 'By law, hospitals must have at least one full-time specialist to offer specific services,' he explained. This requirement can lead to shortages if hospitals aim to expand their services. Dr Kuljit said, unlike private hospitals, the government was obligated to provide comprehensive healthcare services and is more acutely aware of areas with specialist shortages. To fulfil the demand for medical specialists in the government sector, he suggested intensifying and refining specialisation programmes. Additionally, Dr Kuljit proposed offering incentives to entice Malaysian specialists working abroad to return home and contribute to the healthcare system.
The Star
02-05-2025
- Health
- The Star
‘Medication, tech costs driving private hospital inflation'
PETALING JAYA: Amid debate over rising charges on hospital supplies and services (HSS), the Association of Private Hospitals Malaysia says that they have 'no control over costs related to medication, medical equipment and emerging technologies like electronic medical records and artificial intelligence'. 'This is made worse by the unfavourable currency exchange rates. As a result, we have to absorb these costs, which are ultimately passed on to the patient in the final bill,' said association president Datuk Dr Kuljit Singh. The bills issued by private hospitals reflect the comprehensive costs incurred in providing medical treatment. He said that regulating the prices of such medical equipment must be approached realistically and studied thoroughly to determine if it could lead to companies discontinuing the supply of the latest medical innovations to Malaysia. It is essential that regional markets be analysed for comparison to determine whether costs can be lowered sufficiently to remain competitive, he said. 'A comprehensive study is necessary to understand the dynamics at play,' he said when contacted. Dr Kuljit said the Malaysian healthcare system is facing inflationary pressures, which are affecting public healthcare as well. 'Moreover, there is limited recourse available to mitigate these effects as we do not have local industries producing healthcare products such as medical equipment and medications.' He said Malaysia should consider investing in the development of its own pharmaceutical products and medical equipment in the future. 'Such a strategic move could enhance independence and contribute to a more sustainable healthcare ecosystem,' Dr Kuljit said. The increasing number of patients and insurance claims, he pointed out, is largely driving the rise in medical inflation in the country. 'While private hospitals' profitability is often scrutinised, factors contributing to rising healthcare costs, such as inflation, are frequently overlooked.' 'This reality is not fully understood by many, but it highlights the challenges we face in the healthcare sector.' Such a trend, he said, is not unique to Malaysia, as many countries are experiencing similar increases in medical expenses. Dr Kuljit said the association is committed to ensuring the affordability of treatment costs, using strategies including transparency in drug prices. However, he said it is important that such a move is carried out wisely without compromising on the care given to patients.
