MELAKA: The historic city’s standing as a regional healthcare hub is set to be further strengthened with the construction of two additional hospitals to complement the six existing private medical centres here, says Datuk Seri Ab Rauf Yusoh.
The Melaka Chief Minister said the development of the two advanced facilities reflects the positive growth of the state’s medical tourism industry, which has shown encouraging progress in recent years.
Ab Rauf noted that between 2023 and 2025 alone, Hospital Putra recorded an average of more than 10,000 health tourists annually.
“The investment for the two new hospitals is valued at RM678mil and is expected to be completed by 2029.
“In fact, the project forms part of a larger complex that will be known as a healthcare city, which will also include residential units, retail centres and a college,” he said after witnessing the groundbreaking ceremony for the historic city’s new integrated specialist healthcare development in Bukit Baru here on Friday (Feb 13).
The development, led by Melaka Corporation (MCORP), comprises Putra Specialist Hospital 2 and the Brain & Spine Hospital.
Ab Rauf said that once completed, Putra Specialist Hospital 2 would serve as an early treatment centre for heart patients in the southern region before they proceed to the National Heart Institute (IJN) in Kuala Lumpur for further care.
"The service collaboration with IJN will also continue at Putra Specialist Hospital 2 to ensure a more comprehensive, integrated and seamless continuation of cardiac care.
“We are also leveraging investment opportunities in the healthcare sector in response to encouraging demand from neighbouring countries,” he added.
He said the project is expected to create about 1,000 new jobs, and urged local youths in particular to take advantage of the employment opportunities that will arise.
Earlier, Ab Rauf witnessed the exchange of two memorandums of understanding between MCORP and the hospitals’ key operators, as well as the presentation of a letter of intent to MRCB Builders Sdn Bhd, a wholly owned subsidiary of Malaysian Resources Corporation Bhd, outlining the design-and-build scope for both hospitals.
The Putra Specialist Hospital 2 will be a 12-storey multidisciplinary specialist hospital with 300 beds, featuring about 100 consultant suites alongside laboratory, pathology and ancillary medical services.
The Brain & Spine Hospital will be a six-storey dedicated neuro-medical facility offering 120 beds for specialised neurology and spine care.
Both hospitals form part of an integrated healthcare-led master plan aimed at expanding specialist healthcare capacity and advanced medical services in the state, while supporting Melaka’s growing role in medical tourism.
