Interest in Overseas Medical Treatment Rises, Malaysia Offers Second Medical Opinion
The high interest of the Indonesian public in seeking healthcare services abroad continues to drive the growth of the regional medical tourism industry. Malaysia is actively strengthening its position as a healthcare destination for Indonesian patients through various promotions and cross-sector collaborations.
The Malaysia Healthcare Travel Council (MHTC), in conjunction with Tourism Malaysia, noted high levels of enthusiasm during the Malaysia Fair 2026 held in Jakarta from 4–7 June 2026. The exhibition featured various hospitals, healthcare providers, and Malaysian tourism industry players.
Suriaghandi Suppiah, Chief Executive Officer of MHTC, stated that Indonesia remains the largest market for Malaysia’s medical tourism industry. Consequently, various efforts are being undertaken to expand access for Indonesian citizens to the healthcare services available in the country.
“Through this exhibition, we aim to present Malaysia’s trusted healthcare services to the Indonesian people while strengthening Malaysia’s position as a preferred destination for international-quality healthcare,” said Suriaghandi.
MHTC data shows that Indonesia contributed approximately 2.2 billion Malaysian ringgit to Malaysia’s medical tourism revenue throughout 2025. This value represents a 23 per cent increase compared to the previous year and accounts for nearly 66 per cent of the total revenue of Malaysia’s medical tourism industry.
In line with this, the number of Indonesian citizens seeking medical treatment in Malaysia also continues to rise. Throughout 2025, more than 970,000 health tourists from Indonesia were recorded accessing medical services in the country.
This high figure indicates the significant level of trust Indonesian citizens place in Malaysian healthcare, particularly for the treatment of various diseases requiring specialist services. Some of the most sought-after services for Indonesian patients include comprehensive health screenings, gastroenterology, cancer care, endocrinology, cardiology, and orthopaedic surgery.
Health observers note that the rising trend in medical tourism reflects increasing public awareness regarding the quality of healthcare services. In addition to medical facilities and technology, ease of access and patient experience are also key considerations in choosing a treatment location.
During the exhibition, Malaysia Healthcare presented several leading hospitals, including Flagship Medical Tourism Hospitals (FMTH) such as Island Hospital Penang, National Heart Institute, Mahkota Medical Centre, and Subang Jaya Medical Centre, alongside other member hospitals including Alpha IVF & Women’s Specialists, Ampang Puteri Specialist Hospital, and Sunway Medical Centre.
In addition to healthcare services, visitors also received information regarding travel packages, accommodation, and various destinations to visit during their treatment.
At the opening ceremony on Friday (5/6), MHTC Brand Ambassador Dato’ Sri Siti Nurhaliza attended the event. She shared her personal experience undergoing an IVF programme in Malaysia and encouraged Indonesian citizens to seek second medical opinions in Malaysia while enjoying the country’s premier tourism offerings.
Through the Malaysia Year of Medical Tourism 2026 programme, themed “Healing Meets Hospitality,” Malaysia aims to strengthen medical tourism and increase its contribution to the national economy. The rising trend of Indonesian patients seeking treatment abroad demonstrates a high interest in seeking second medical opinions. Malaysia offers a unique combination of clinical excellence, cost efficiency, and cultural proximity, making it a primary destination for health tourism.