Sabah set to become medical tourism destination
KOTA KINABALU: Sabah is on the way to becoming the choice destination for medical tourism with the opening of Gleneagles Kota Kinabalu Hospital’s (GKKH’s) Lasik Centre here, said Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Masidi Manjun.
Masidi said the combination of par excellence services offered by GKKH, Sabah’s strategic location within Asian cities, and the state’s renowned natural beauty places made Kota Kinabalu as an upcoming medical tourism spot.
He foresees that Kota Kinabalu will mainly attract Chinese national tourists as there were 86 scheduled direct flights per week from China alone.
The other potential tourists hail from Korea as there were 35 scheduled direct flights from the country, out of the total of 190 international flights per week.
“The good services which they have been providing is closing the gap for Kota Kinabalu as a preferred destination in this part of the world,” he said after launching the private hospital’s Lasik Centre and Mercy Malaysia Sabah Chapter’s #LoseTheGlasses Campaign here yesterday.
“I really hope that this new service will further propel not only their reputation but also the need for Kota Kinabalu itself as a destination of choice not only for those who want to come here for holiday but for those who want to come here for some medical procedures and the like.
“We are linked to over 15 international cities in Asia so it is convenient to come to Kota Kinabalu. All the Asian cities are within five hours of flight from Kota Kinabalu.
“I think the cost is not only very competitive but in some cases is actually much lower than what is being offered at other major hospitals in other cities in the world,” he added.
GKKH CEO Jean Francois Naa said the number of people coming from all over the world to seek treatment at the hospital has grown since it first opened less than three years ago.
He said this was because the visitors have trust in GKKH’s convenient location, quality of services and the major trust in the hospital’s brand.
“A couple of months earlier we did health screening for more than 50 Chinese tourists. In February, another 150 coming here on holiday will at the same time proceed with health screening at Gleneagles,” said Naa.
“There is a way we can develop medical tourism here in Sabah. We are also expecting tourists from Kalimantan, the Indonesians are coming over to Kota Kinabalu and Gleneagles for treatment,” he added.
As far as yesterday afternoon, 10 people in Sabah had booked the new Lasik eye procedure offered exclusively at GKKH.
Naa said the hospital was dedicated to offer more highend and unique services such as neurosurgery.
“With the launch today, we are the only Lasik centre here in Sabah. If you wanted to do this procedure in the past, you have to fly to Kuala Lumpur and Singapore. Gleneagles is now offering that for the population of Sabah,” he shared.
Naa added GKKH had not only spent millions on high-tech equipment but also invested in the expertise so patients can get the best medical services.