August 13, 2009 at 5:29 pm
Patients Beyond Borders: Malaysia Edition was formally launched at the APHM Annual Conference in Kuala Lumpur on 23 July, 2009, to a gratifying display of unity from the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Tourism, and Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (MATRADE), as well as specially invited guests from the US, the UK, Japan, Indonesia, Vietnam, Cambodia, Singapore, and Thailand. The ISQua President-elect, former President, and current President were present, along with executives from all of the top international Malaysian hospitals.
Malaysia’s Minister of Health, YB Dato’ Sri Liow Tiong Lai, delivered the opening address at the APHM/ASQua/ISQua International Healthcare Conference. Dr. Junaida Lee Abdullah, the Deputy Secretary General of the Ministry of Tourism and representative of the Minister of Tourism, Dato’ Sri Ng Yen Yen, officially announced the book’s launch. Dato’ Dr. Jacob Thomas, President of the Association of Private Hospitals of Malaysia (APHM), along with Dr. Abdullah and the leaders of ISQua, presented copies of Patients Beyond Borders: Malaysia Edition to the top executives of the book’s featured hospitals at the launch ceremony.
“I was pleased and honored to see such a show of unity amongst disparate public and private interests,” said Josef Woodman, author of the Patients Beyond Borders series and CEO of Healthy Travel Media. “In today’s competitive environment, common goals and collaborative planning are essential to achieving visibility and patient awareness.”
The Malaysia Edition launch activities highlighted the nation’s emergence as one of Asia’s leading medical tourism destinations. Malaysia is quickly gaining ground on the global healthcare front, with increasing numbers of medical tourists taking advantage of its high-quality healthcare, low costs, and hospitality toward international visitors. Last year, Malaysia welcomed 370,000 travelers from 60 countries who visited its international medical facilities for a wide range of procedures and services, including hip and knee replacement, coronary angiography, dentistry, health screenings, and more.
“Health tourism is one of the brightest points in the growth of the healthcare sector in Malaysia,” according to Dr. Paul Suwinski, Frost & Sullivan’s Senior Consultant of Healthcare for Asia Pacific.
With a growing number of hospitals accredited by international organizations and by the Malaysian Society for Quality in Health (MSQH), Malaysia’s medical tourism sector is expected to see continued robust annual growth exceeding 25.3%, allowing the country to showcase its quality healthcare services and specialties offered at competitive prices.
Patients Beyond Borders: Malaysia Edition will be available at bookstores and online retail channels throughout the world. The eBook edition is available through lulu.com. Booksellers wishing to carry the Malaysia Edition should contact Publisher’s Group West.