Malaysia's IHH says medical tourism to grow past pre-COVID levels

Hospital chain looks to M&As as Asia's aging population fuels health care demand

20210116 IHH Healthcare

IHH Healthcare CEO Kelvin Loh and Mount Elizabeth Novena hospital. The Malaysian health care group is expecting medical tourism to bounce back from pandemic travel restrictions. (Source photos by Kentaro Iwamoto and AP)

KENTARO IWAMOTO, Nikkei staff writer

SINGAPORE -- Demand for medical tourism is starting to rebound and will grow beyond pre-pandemic levels as border restrictions ease, according to the chief executive of IHH Healthcare, one of Asia's largest private hospital chains.

The Malaysian company operates 80 hospitals in 10 countries, with Malaysia, Singapore, India and Turkey its major markets. Its hospitals include some of the region's most prestigious names, such as Mount Elizabeth in Singapore and Gleneagles in Malaysia and several other markets, where wealthy patients from Indonesia, the Middle East and elsewhere come for treatment.

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