SHAH ALAM, Oct 6 — Once a supporting player in Malaysia’s healthcare travel industry, Selangor has emerged as a medical tourism powerhouse, thanks to world-class hospitals, strong government support, and a wide range of offerings.
But it is not stopping there. For state executive councillor for local government and tourism Dato’ Ng Suee Lim, the goal is clear: to position Selangor as the leading destination for medical tourism in the region.
“We are home to many of Malaysia's internationally accredited private hospitals and specialist centres that offer world-class healthcare at competitive costs.
“Beyond that, medical travellers also enjoy holistic tourism experiences, from wellness retreats to cultural attractions,” he told Media Selangor, noting that Selangor has invested heavily in strengthening tourism infrastructure to ensure patients enjoy a complete experience.
Today, the state has 60 private hospitals equipped with the latest technology and internationally certified professionals, providing expertise in a variety of areas, including cardiology, orthopaedics, fertility treatments like in vitro fertilisation (IVF), oncology, and general medicine.
Ng added that this concentration of top-tier facilities, combined with the state’s connectivity via the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA), makes Selangor highly accessible to international patients.
Meanwhile, the Malaysia Healthcare Travel Council (MHTC) said Selangor’s competitive edge lies in its hospital network, many of them internationally accredited, including the Sunway Medical Centre, the Subang Jaya Medical Centre, KPJ Healthcare, and Alpha IVF and Women’s Specialists.
It noted that active regional promotion has helped raise the state’s profile.
“At the MHExpo Selangor Week 2024 in Surabaya in August last year, for example, 10 Selangor hospitals promoted the MedTravel Selangor campaign (a Tourism Selangor initiative to promote the state’s medical tourism), attracting nearly a thousand visitors and wide press coverage in Indonesia.
“Building on this momentum, the Malaysia Healthcare Expo 2025 in Makassar, Indonesia, in June saw 17 hospitals, including seven from Selangor, engaging close to 2,800 visitors, further reinforcing the state’s visibility and appeal among key healthcare traveller markets,” the MHTC said in an email reply to Media Selangor.
Selangor is well-placed to lead Malaysia’s transition from being a cost-driven destination to one recognised for quality and innovation, with opportunities in medical technology (MedTech), robotics, artificial intelligence, and digital health.
Both Ng and the MHTC agree that medical tourism will play a crucial role in Selangor’s economy in the years to come, with healthcare travellers contributing not only through hospital bills but also by boosting hotels, food and beverages, retail, and wellness tourism.
Previously in February, the MHTC said the Klang Valley had surpassed Penang to become Malaysia’s leading medical tourism hub, drawing around 560,700 international patients from January to November last year — up from 490,000 in 2019 — and generating approximately RM886 million in revenue.
The central region now accounts for 44.5 per cent of all healthcare travellers and contributes 41.6 per cent of total revenue.
Shift in patient priorities
MHTC’s data has revealed that the most sought-after treatment in Selangor is fertility services, overtaking health screening as the leading discipline, reflecting rising demand for IVF and other assisted reproductive technologies.
Cancer care, gastroenterology, and infectious disease treatment are also among the top areas sought after in Selangor.
“Fertility treatments are now the leading draw for health tourists in Selangor, signalling a strategic opportunity to expand and promote reproductive health packages internationally.
“This surge is likely driven by Malaysia’s cost-effective yet high-quality fertility services, including IVF and other assisted reproductive technologies, which are increasingly sought after by international patients,” said the council.
The MHTC also noted that health screening continues to serve as an important entry point, as many patients undergo preventive checks before proceeding with further treatments.
“Health screening continues to generate sustained interest among patients who prioritise preventive and early diagnostic care.
“It not only helps in the early detection of potential health issues but also serves as a gateway for patients to proceed with necessary follow-up treatments,” it said.
Indonesia, Selangor’s golden market
According to Ng, Indonesia remains Selangor’s biggest medical tourism market, driven by close cultural ties, geographical proximity, and strong flight connectivity.
Based on MHTC’s data, the state welcomed 284,814 healthcare tourists from Indonesia last year, generating RM474.7 million in revenue, with other key source markets including Bangladesh, India, China, and the Philippines.
To capture the growing demand from Indonesian travellers, Selangor has launched targeted promotions in the republic, including the specialised campaign called ‘Liburan Sehat Ya Di Selangor Aja!’.
“We believe there is still tremendous growth potential, especially with targeted promotions, collaborations with healthcare providers and travel agents in Indonesia,” he said.
On its part, Selangor is targeting a three to five per cent increase in Indonesian healthcare tourist arrivals between 2025 and 2026.
The state has also tapped into digital platforms through its dedicated medical tourism campaign MedTravel Selangor, and partnered with Indonesian influencers to showcase Selangor’s hospitals and wellness centres.
