Malaysia Medical Costs

Treatment and hospital care costs in Malaysia are very reasonable compared to the west. At the same time, the medical expertise of Malaysian specialists is ranked among the world’s best. The currency exchange rate between the Malaysian ringgit and the US dollar is also favorable and helps make the country an affordable, as well as appealing, medical tourism destination.

The state of Penang is at the forefront of medical tourism, as its government actively promotes the island’s private facilities for cosmetic and plastic surgery procedures. Some of the top clinics and hospitals draw patients from all parts of the world, offering special service centers for foreign visitors and a number of treatment packages including executive health screening, for example, for which a battery of tests including a chest X-ray, electrocardiogram and blood screening costs around US$160. Other medical facilities on Penang include a fertility center, heart center, and a laser eye center.

Cardiac procedures can be a particularly good value in Malaysia. Normal cardiac bypass surgery costs run around US$6,000 to 7,000, offering enormous savings over comparable costs in the US where patients may pay as much as US$50,000 to 125,000.