Johor Mentri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi (right) presenting a gift to Singapore Health Minister Ong Ye Kun (left) during his visit to Kota Iskandar here on Tuesday (Jan 14).
JOHOR BARU: The state healthcare industry is set to receive a significant boost following the signing of the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone (JS-SEZ) agreement earlier this month, says Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi.
In a Facebook post, the Johor Mentri Besar welcomed the visit of Singapore's Health Minister Ong Ye Kung to Kota Iskandar on Tuesday (Jan 14).
“The meeting provides an opportunity to strengthen relationships and cooperation in the health sector between Johor and Singapore, especially through the JS-SEZ that was signed on Jan 7.
“Many topics were discussed, including the potential for cooperation in the exchange of expertise, joint research, and cross-border medical tourism,” he said.
Onn Hafiz also highlighted discussions on how the JS-SEZ could enhance access to better healthcare services and improve the efficiency of the health systems in both countries.
“This collaboration also focuses on the development of specialised healthcare services and the establishment of centres of excellence, which will greatly benefit the people of both countries, particularly in the area of medical tourism.
“The state government is confident that this initiative will not only boost the economy through a more integrated medical tourism sector and positively impact the well-being of the people in Johor and Singapore, but it will also create more employment opportunities and drive development in the healthcare industry,” he added.
Meanwhile, state health and unity committee chairman Ling Tian Soon, who accompanied Onn Hafiz during the discussion with Ong, described the meeting as a testament to the close relationship between Johor and Singapore.
“We shared views on the health systems of both countries and discussed potential collaborations in the medical field.
“We agreed that once the Rapid Transit System Link (RTS) is operational, it will transform the daily lives of people in both cities,” he said.
Ling, who is also the Yong Peng assemblyman, said the RTS would facilitate easier and faster movement between Johor and Singapore. With a significant increase in the number of users expected, thorough preparation is essential.
“In addition, we also discussed the future direction of the JS-SEZ and welcomed investments from Singapore’s biotechnology companies into the special economic zone in Johor,” he added.
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