JOHOR BARU: Johor has recorded a 15% increase in medical tourism revenue in the first half of 2025, bucking the national trend which saw a 9% drop over the same period.
State health and environment committee chairman Ling Tian Soon said the growth highlighted Johor's rising profile as a healthcare hub, especially among patients from neighbouring countries.
"The three main countries contributing to Johor's medical tourist arrivals are Indonesia, Singapore and China," he said when met after witnessing the launching of Hinotori's robotic-assisted surgical (RAS) procedures at Regency Specialist Hospital here on Monday (Sept 22).
The Yong Peng assemblyman added that in the first half of 2024, Johor recorded RM42.08mil in medical tourism revenue while the figure rose to RM48.55mil over the same period this year.
"In contrast, Malaysia's overall medical tourism receipts fell from RM654.64mil last year to RM592.72mil this year, which is a 9% decline," he said.
He attributed Johor's growth to new investments by private hospitals, which have boosted confidence in the state's healthcare sector.
"Private hospitals in Johor have been expanding their facilities and adopting new technologies. This has encouraged more patients from the region, especially from Indonesia and Singapore, to come here for treatment and health screenings," he said.
Ling said upcoming projects such as the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone (JS-SEZ) would further boost medical tourism.
He added that the state government was also planning ahead to meet rising healthcare demands from both residents and foreign patients.
"The new Pasir Gudang Hospital will begin operation soon, and approval has also been given for a second Sultanah Aminah Hospital (HSA2)," he said.
He added that several existing government hospitals, including in Pontian, would receive additional buildings, while new health clinics were also in the pipeline.
"To strengthen the healthcare ecosystem in southern Johor, we have set up a joint task force with the Health Ministry to address current challenges and plan long-term," he said.
Ling also acknowledged that Johor's population of 4.1 million could grow by between 10% and 20% by 2030, particularly in the southern region.
