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Millennium
Asean Asian Medical Tourism 2008 :Conference &
Exhibition 2008 : Together for Health 2008
- A Strategic Approach for the Asean Asian
Countries..Destination Medical Tourism Malaysia
This Millennium 1st edition Conference &
Exhibition 2008 in collaboration with
ASEAN FOCUS:
Destination
Medical Tourism Malaysia:
Malaysia's major selling point is its
ability to perform difficult treatments.
Among the most popularly
requested operations are cardiac bypass
surgery—the National Heart Institute
is a leading center in the region—and fertility
treatments, with the country's premier Damansara
Fertility Centre claiming in vitro success rates
that match top U.S. clinics'.
According to Azilina Zainal, a Tourism Malaysia
official. "Hospitals catering to foreigners are
not just in Kuala Lumpur but also in cities such
as Melaka (formerly Malacca)
that are close to
Singapore." She said, "We see
medical tourism, which is fast-growing, as a
niche with vast still-to-be-tapped potential."
Price and privacy are the big drawing cards,
says Marloes Giezenaar, a
26-year-old MBA who has
reshaped 65 clients since setting up
"Beautiful Holidays" on Penang island off
Malaysia's north-west coast.
For around the same cost as cosmetic surgery in
their home countries her clients get the surgery
plus the chance to recuperate during a two-week
holiday in a four-star hotel far from the prying
eyes of acquaintances.
The most popular treatments, in order, are
breast augmentation, liposuction, tummy tucks,
facelifts and nose jobs.
Giezenaar works with a Malaysian plastic and
cosmetic surgeon who practiced for several years
in Britain. She does the marketing —
mainly through her
website, word of mouth and brochures at European
beauty salons and gyms — arranges the
consultations, flights and accommodation.
Several Asian countries, including Singapore and
Thailand are targeting "medical tourism"
as a growth area, and Giezenaar is co-chairman
of the Health Tourism Promotion Taskforce of the
Penang Tourism Council.
"Malaysia's got big potential for medical
tourism. The hospitals are very good, spoken
English is better than in many countries and a
lot of Malaysian doctors trained in the UK and
Australia."
"We've had clients who didn't tell their
husbands or boyfriends — just said
they were going on
holiday — and presented a surprise when they
came home." Others bring their husbands along
for the golf.
Giezenaar says although
Europe is her main market, she is receiving an
increasing number of clients from Asia, mainly
Singaporeans and Hong Kongers looking for double
eyelids and Indians seeking nose jobs.
"They don't like talking to their families about
it so if they just tell them they're going on
holiday to Penang that's fine."
Most of her clients are women, but she has had
several men seeking liposuction, breast
reduction and nose jobs. Her
youngest patient was 19, for breast
augmentation, and the oldest was 62, for a tummy
tuck.
Giezenaar believes cosmetic surgery is about to
boom in Asia, with women having increasing
disposable income and a desire matching their
European counterparts to improve on what nature
has given them.
A full facelift with all the endoscopic forehead
lift and double eyelids is about 18,000 ringgit
(nearly $5000).
The country's only medical screening center
within a five-star resort, CHMT offers patients
a battery of diagnostic tests (including
fluoroscopy and abdominal ultrasounds) and the
results five hours later. Pass the time by
taking a water taxi to the neighboring Mines
Shopping Fair for a bout of retail therapy.(special
correspondent from malaysia)
<Malaysia
Citynews> <Oman
Citynews> |
