00:00Two healthcare groups rejected Party Socialist Malaysia's criticism of medical tourism, saying it creates jobs, supports low-income workers, reduces
00:08public hospital pressure, and helps curb brain drain.
00:12Surya Gandhi Supia, CEO of the Malaysia Healthcare Travel Council, said the healthcare travel industry is a key economic engine,
00:19with one ringgit spent on medical care generating about four ringgit for hotels, airlines, restaurants, transport, and retail.
00:26He said the sector generated 3.34 billion ringgit in direct medical revenue last year, and about 13 billion ringgit
00:32in total economic activity.
00:34He was responding to PSM's protests against the Malaysia Year of Medical Tourism 2026, as well as the Party Chairman
00:41Dr. Michael Giyakumar Devaraj's claim that private hospitals are drawing specialists away from public hospitals.
00:47Surya Gandhi added that medical tourism helps retain specialists in Malaysia by allowing private hospitals to offer advanced equipment, high
00:56-end infrastructure, and globally competitive practice standards.
00:59Meanwhile, Galen Center for Health and Social Policies, Azrul Khalib, said health tourism brings foreign revenue, supports private hospital growth,
01:07creates jobs, and strengthens Malaysia's reputation for quality care.
01:11However, he said the government must ensure health tourism complements national health goals and does not worsen staff shortages or
01:18disadvantage local patients.
01:20Dhan Sharjah Reza, FMT.
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