Govt always supportive of efforts to develop health tourism - Dr Hilmi

He said, unlike other countries, the government had constantly taken initiatives to expand the health tourism industry, resulting in high returns to the economy.

"Only in Malaysia does the government promote health tourism, while in other countries, hospitals have to do their own promotion ...and, to date, the industry (in Malaysia) has flourished," he told reporters after launching a Premier Tadarus (group recital of the Quran) event organised by the Balik Pulau Wanita UMNO division here today.

He said, the availability of 120 specialists in the country also provided assurance while attracting foreign patients to chose Malaysia as their medication destination.

According to Hilmi, medical costs which are monitored by the ministry also contributed to drawing the interest of foreign patients to this country as they will not be overcharged.

In another development, when asked on the licence application process of Island Hospital Sdn Bhd to expand its hospital at Lebuh Peel (Peel Avenue) near here, he said the ministry had not yet been informed on the matter.

"(If) the new hospital requires a new licence...the ministry has certain regulations and the company must adhere to them, including matters such as zoning," he said.

Recently, Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng announced that the state government sold land worth RM156 million at Peel Avenue to Island Hospital Sdn Bhd for the construction of a 'medical city' project.

Lim was reported to have said that the land owned by Chief Minister Incorporated had been alienated to the hospital on a 99-year lease, with a RM30 million down payment, while the remaining payment was to be settled within three months, after acquiring a licence from the Health Ministry.