Intra-Regional Medical Tourism Demand in Malaysia: A Qualitative Study of Indonesian Medical Tourists’ Rationale and Preferences

Abstract

Background: This study aims to explore the Indonesian tourists’ demand for medical tourism services in Malaysia. The study also investigates the Indonesian medical tourists’ profiles and their preference for Malaysia for medical treatment services. Methods: This study conducted interviews with 49 potential patients from Indonesia who received cardiac treatment at the National Heart Institute (IJN) in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Results: The findings indicate that the key motives of Indonesian tourists travelling to Malaysia for medical treatment are their disappointment with medical practices and inadequate expertise in Indonesia. Besides, they are motivated by peer recommendations, medical expertise, transparency, administration and hospitality in Malaysia. The study findings show that Indonesian medical tourists can be acknowledged as an elite group with stable and above-average income. Conclusion: Results from the study enable medical tourism marketers to better target and segments their potential medical tourists and develop a strategic medical tourism marketing roadmap. This study shows that the high demand for medical tourism is related to Malaysia’s availability of niche medical services. Besides, this paper expands the understanding of medical tourists’ decision-making and argues its implications for Malaysian health policy and healthcare delivery for the medical tourism industry sustainability.

Medical tourism among Indonesians: a scoping review

“…22 articles were published in English [ 20 – 22 , 35 – 38 , 44 – 54 , 58 ], and 3 articles were published in Indonesian language [ 55 – 57 ]. Most participants were from middle to upper class background [ 20 , 21 , 35 , 37 , 38 , 44 , 47 , 54 , 58 , 61 ]. Participants from low economic status were reported in two studies [ 45 , 54 ].…”

Medical tourism among Indonesians: a scoping review

“…An overview of the characteristics of the included studies can be found in table 2. Of the 25 articles discussed in the review, 10 studies used qualitative methods [30][31][32][39][40][41][42][43][44][45], 12 studies used quantitative methods [33,[46][47][48][49][50][51][52][53][54][55][56]. Additionally, a mixed-method study [57] articles were published in English [30-33, 39-52, 56], and 3 articles were published in Indonesian language [53][54][55].…”

“…Such positive attitudes and behaviours of medical staff are re ected in being cheerful, and smiling while serving, and good communication with patients and their families, which also lead to positive patient-doctor relations [59]. Thus, studies with Indonesian patients accessing medical treatment in these countries suggested patients felt their dignity being maintained and respected and no frustration due to feeling unimportant or ignored [42].…”

Healthcare Facilities and Medical Tourism Across the World: A Bibliometric Analysis

“…When developing its medical tourism sector, Malaysia, an ASEAN member, transformed its health services by merging public and private providers. This policy gives the government primary, secondary and personal health services to provide tertiary healthcare ( 31 ). Thus, Malaysia’s private and public services are prepared to enhance existing healthcare facilities in the country’s medical tourism industry, which welcomes the highest proportion of Indonesian patients ( 32 ).…”

“…In the case of Malaysia, the government chose to attract medical tourists from Indonesia. Individual needs, evaluation services, medical facility services, the presence of relatives in the service destinations and the influence of medical service response bias towards treatment programmes are some elements that affect the choice of medical tourism destinations ( 31 ).…”