Thesun 2009-05-26 Page12 Medical Toursim Getting More Popular

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theSun

| TUESDAY MAY 26 2009

news without borders

Medical tourism getting more popular by Hemananthani Sivanandam

FOREIGN PATIENTS IN MALAYSIA IN 2007

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•

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Singapore (10%) Japan (5%)

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Europe (3%) India (4%)

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Others (6%)

• Indonesia (72%)

AMOUNT SPENT BY FOREIGN PATIENTS

2008 (RM299.1 million)

2007 (RM253.8 million)

SOURCE: ASSOCIATION OF PRIVATE HOSPITALS OF MALAYSIA (APHM)

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PETALING JAYA: Medical tourism is gaining popularity in Asian countries and there are many reasons why the countries are getting the attention. With healthcare costs rising in the West and consumers tightening their belts, many seek healthcare services in countries where medical treatment costs less yet come with quality. Global Travel Industry News website states that Asian countries like Malaysia, Thailand and Singapore are favourites among medical tourists due to the significantly cheaper health care which can cost as little as 10% compared to care in the US, but still provide quality treatment by medical experts who have been trained in the US, UK and other western countries. In terms of global market value, the medical tourism industry is expected to reach US$4.4 billion (RM15.6 billion) by 2012. In 2007, 545,293 out of the 20.9 million tourists who visited Malaysia came for the purpose of health treatment. From 2004 to 2008, the number of foreign patients expanded by 20% in terms of patients and 30% in terms of revenue. Health Ministry under-secretary (policy and international relations division) Choy Lup Bong said tourists mainly come to Malaysia for cosmetic surgery and alternative medicine. “Apart from being a country which is high in cost savings, it is also an attractive location for recuperation. In fact, some

hotels in Malaysia have begun promoting themselves as medical tourist-friendly hotels. “Also, 36 private hospitals have been identified by the ministry to promote Malaysia as a medical tourism destination. Some of the reasons why medical tourism is gaining popularity in Asian countries are due to the favourable exchange rate which makes medical procedures an incredible value to foreign visitors. “Lower medical costs means more money is available for family members and friends to accompany the patients,” he added. He said companions need accommodation; at the same time, they also want to visit attractions in the city. “Thus, medical tourism not only benefits the medical industry but also other travel-related industries.” In a Malaysia Health Seminar organised recently by Tourism Malaysia, industry players felt that more can be done to improve the medical tourism sector in the country. Nazar Travels and Tours Sdn Bhd managing director K. Narayanan said only a few travel agents promote medical tourism as it lacks a workable business model that would benefit private hospitals and travel agents. “Unlike hotels, private hospitals do not have different rates for foreigners or locals, so there is no incentive for travel agents,” explained Narayanan. He said travel agents receive some incentives from hotels “but there are no agreements between hospitals and travel agents”. “Unless there is a workable business model that benefits

both parties (hospitals and travel agents), then there will be less acceptance by agents to promote medical tourism,” he added. The Malaysian Tourist Guides Council (MTGC) says guides find it difficult to promote or answer questions regarding products or services offered by hospitals or operators offering healthcare, medical and wellness tourism. “There should be more familiarisation tours organised by hospitals or operators offering healthcare, medical and wellness tourism for our members so we have a better understanding of the products,” said MTGC executive secretary Diana Lee. “Most of the time, we (guides) do our own reading and research.” Tourism Malaysia director (research and industry development) Zulkifly Md Said said the government had set up a council to focus on medical tourism chaired by the Economic Planning Unit (EPU). The council members comprise the Health and Tourism Ministries, Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (Matrade), Malaysian Industrial Development Authority (Mida) and Association of Private Hospitals of Malaysia. The Health Ministry will also be introducing “Malaysia Healthcare” to promote health tourism in the country. Zulkifly said Tourism Malaysia will embark on a threeyear plan of extensive data collection and market profile on health tourism, and launch extensive media, promotional activities and familiarisation trips.

There should be more familiarisation tours organised by hospitals or operators offering healthcare, medical and wellness tourism for our members so we have a better understanding of the products.” – Diana Lee MTGC executive secretary

Memories with ‘daddy’ P. Ramlee T

AN Sri P. Ramlee, the legend of the Malay film industry passed away on May 29, 1973. The following is an account on the actor, director and singer, among others, as related by his adopted son. KUANTAN: Despite the smile on his face when he came out with several old photo albums, Pak Ngah just could not hold back the tears. The albums contained black-andwhite photographs of Malaysia’s legendary artistes apart from that of the young Pak Ngah with several aspiring talents of Studio Jalan Ampas. (Studio Jalan Ampas in Singapore in its heydays in the 1960s was the bastion of the Malay film industry. It was owned by the Asian movie mogul, Shaw Brothers.) Pak Ngah, whose real name is Ngah Mohamad, 70, is not only an ardent fan of this legend but had the opportunity to stay with (Tan Sri) P. Ramlee whom he affectionately called “daddy”. Only 36 years after the demise of the country’s legendary artiste did Pak Ngah decide to reveal his life with the great actor. That is why not many among the public know that Pak Ngah is the foster son of Ramlee. “I get so sad every time there is a Ramlee movie. I just can’t bring myself to watch the television,” Pak Ngah said when met in his Kampung Baru

Beserah home here. Recalling how he met Ramlee, whose real name is Teuku Zakaria Teuku Nyak Puteh, Pak Ngah who hails from Kampung Durian Mas, Manir, Terengganu, said he had to tag along with the “bangsawan” troupe of A.R. Tompel (Aman Ramlie Jaafar) from Terengganu to Singapore at the age of 13. Pak Ngah said as the bangsawan shows received poor response in Singapore, Tompel left for Sabah to perform there, leaving him stranded on the island. Pak Ngah said Tompel left him only RM2 and promised to bring him to Sabah later. However, luck was with Pak Ngah as he chanced upon actress Siti Mariam, also known as “Mariani” who took him to meet Ramlee to look for a job. Pak Ngah recalled that Ramlee had asked him whether he could memorise the dialogue to which he replied “no” as he had never attended school, which meant he could neither read nor write then. However, Pak Ngah had assisted Ramlee as an extra in movies like “Panggilan Pulau” (1954) and “Hang Tuah” (1955) with a pay of RM20 per scene. According to Pak Ngah, Ramlee then asked him why he had travelled far away from home and he replied it was all because of the hardship back home where at times he could only afford a decent meal once a week.

“Maybe due to sympathy, Ramlee invited me to stay in his house on Jalan Ampas,” said Pak Ngah, this time overcome by emotion with tears rolling down his cheeks. But when things were just looking up for Pak Ngah, he was struck by misfortune at the age of 18. One day, while he was returning home, he was waylaid by a group of men and when he refused to hand over the money, he was badly beaten up and stabbed. He ended up blinded in the right eye. Following the attack, Ramlee told Pak Ngah to stop work and stay at home. When Pak Ngah was close to 20 years of age, Ramlee asked him to marry Normah Yusof, another of the actor’s foster child. Initially, Pak Ngah declined but finally relented. It was also the reason why he would move out from the actor’s house. “He had asked me to stay but as I had got married, I felt that it was only appropriate for me to stay

Pak Ngah with his collection of Ramlee’s photos.

apart,” he said. Pak Ngah said he returned home to Terengganu but found life difficult there before he left for Beserah, Kuantan, where he worked in a sawmill. Sometime later, he chanced upon Ramlee in Kuala Lumpur and the great artiste again invited Pak Ngah to stay with him but Pak Ngah again declined the invitation. Nevertheless, Ramlee sent him some money. When Ramlee succumbed to a heart attack on May 29, 1973, at the age of 44, Pak Ngah was unable to pay his last respects. He only managed to

visit Ramlee’s final resting ground on Jalan Ampang a week later. Pak Ngah now lives with his second wife Fatimah Mat Min, 55. He also recalled the “tip” that he gave to this legendary actor on how to treat the pimples on the face. Pak Ngah said he had asked Ramlee to use cuttlefish bone to “shave” before rinsing his face with lukewarm water. He also recalled when this gifted musician had a “brainwave”, he would rush to his piano, clad only in a towel, to immediately work on his songs. – Bernama