General Surgery in Malaysia

About Malaysia

Malaysia is a rich culturally-oriented tourist destination and has a beautiful blend of modernization with a relaxed lifestyle. The population of the country is 32 Million people and Malaysia’s economy ranks in the fourth position in terms of size in Southeast Asia, The electronics, automotive, and construction industries are the biggest industries in Malaysia. The capital is Kuala Lumpur and It is the country’s largest urban area and is the cultural, commercial, and transportation center.

Today, Malaysia is a well-recognized country for its superior medical facilities at very affordable prices when compared to other major medical countries of the world. The Ministry of Finance predicts that the number of medical tourists will increase to over 2,000,000 million by 2020 largely due to the exemption of taxes on medical bills.

The cities that top the list of medical travel include Kuala Lumpur, Penang, Selangor, Sarawak, and Melaka. Statistics reveal that among the 1.2 million patients who have visited Malaysia for medical care in 2017, 600,000 alone were from Indonesia. The most-sought-after medical procedures are cosmetic surgery, Brazilian butt-lift, and dental surgery. Malaysia is a favorite destination among medical tourists globally for the following reasons.

• The Country possesses a plethora of world-class hospitals that have high-tech medical equipment.
• All treatment plans match very high ethical medical standards.
• The doctors and paramedical staff are well-qualified.
• All procedures will cost you 50% less than other well known medical countries.
• English is a major language and there is good two-way communication between the doctors/medical staff and the patients.
• After an elective surgical operation, many patients will stay on in Malaysia to holiday and recuperate.

Columbia Asia Extended Care Hospital, Selangor, Sunway Velocity Medical Centre, Kuala Lumpur, Sunway Medical Centre, Selangor, are a few of the medical tourism hospitals with five-star ratings in this Country.

Popular parts of Malaysia

It is easy to see why tourists love Malaysia. Once you discover the magic the country has to offer, you will definitely want to revisit.

• Kuala Lumpur has a  mix of Malay, Indian and Chinese influence which gives you a great selection of culinary delights to explore in this city. Interesting sights such as the Petronas Towers which is one of the tallest twin towers in the world. the Perdana Lake Gardens and the Menara KL Tower provide plenty of enjoyable distractions.
• Penang is an island on the west coast and the colonial city of Georgetown was made a UNESCO World Heritage Site and you can enjoy the museums, seaside fort, historic buildings. Penang is considered one of the best places in Southeast Asia to sample delicious street food of all types.

Some of the world-class cities that you need to visit are Malacca, Langkawi, Kuching, Spaden, Johar Bahru and Taiping.

Weather and Climate in Malaysia

Malaysia enjoys tropical weather year-round however due to its proximity to water the climate is often quite humid. Despite this, the weather is never too hot and temperatures range from a mild 20°C to 30°C average throughout the year; however, the highlands experience cooler temperatures

The best time to visit the east coast is from March to September as it is drier than the rest of Malaysia. November to August is the best time to visit the west coast as the heaviest showers are from September to October.

Getting around in Malaysia

The Country has a well-developed transport network and efficient rail links which makes all travel around the country easy.

It is advisable to book domestic transport well in advance during the main festivals, such as Chinese New Year, Hari Raya Pusa and Hari Raya Haji. Domestic flights and domestic express bus services are often sold out weeks before these festivals. All the major cities in Malaysia have an airport and most budget airlines operate into the country.

Transportation in larger cities is good with many different means of transport. In Kuala Lumpur, there are buses, minibusses (bas-mini), taxis, pedicabs (trishaws), as well as trains.

In Malaysian towns and cities, various modes of transport are used, including ferry services. In cities, the rail network is a good way to get around, especially the KL Monorail and transit trains.

Tourist Visas in Malaysia

The residents of the following countries holding a valid passport are the ones required to apply for a Malaysian tourist visa. China, India, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Myanmar, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Bhutan, Serbia, and Montenegro

All other nationalities will not need a visa to visit Malaysia. You will normally be given permission to stay for 3 months on arrival. Visas for longer stays or for non-tourist purposes must be obtained from the nearest Malaysian diplomatic mission before you travel.

The Malaysian authorities are running a vigorous campaign against illegal immigration. Don’t overstay your visa, or violate the terms of entry. Even if you overstay for just a few days, you can be fined, detained, deported and blacklisted. Flight costs will be the responsibility of the individual.

Additional Information

• Local currency: Ringgit, denoted as RM, is the national Malaysian Currency. Printed in various colors, size, and physical appearance, the Bank Negara Malaysia and the National Bank of Malaysia control the issuing of currency. Malaysia follows the Chinese Model where it has cut itself away from comparing it to US dollars. The Malaysian currency is as such not traded internationally.
• Money and Payments: world-class restaurants and retail stores accept all forms of Credit cards. In case you are not holding the requisite quantity of local currency with you, you can exchange them at exchange bureaus. You can even take out cash from the ATMs.
• Local language: The official language is Malay and English is also widely spoken, the state has a cosmopolitan population, languages such as Arabic, Hindi, Tamil, are also spoken.
• Public holidays: The local population celebrates the Gregorian New year as well as the Chinese New Year. Since a large part of the population is Indian, Malaysia also celebrates some of the traditional Indian festivals such as Pongal, Diwali and Tamil New Year.