GEORGE TOWN: Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow stated that the Penang Medi-City in Batu Kawan will revolutionize healthcare services in the state and serve as a major centre for medical tourism and sustainability in contemporary life.
Employment possibilities and other social and economic benefits are anticipated as a result of the development, he continued.
“It is not merely an infrastructural undertaking. It is a comprehensive vision that combines sustainability, healthcare, and economics to guarantee a brighter future for all parties involved, including the local populace and the international community.
After Monday’s signing ceremony, which Penang Governor Tun Ahmad Fuzi Abdul Razak saw, Chow stated, “It was not easy to get to this point, but we are confident that this collaboration with the developer Fajarbaru Builder Group Bhd (FBG) offers a winning formula.”
Assemblyman Goh Choon Aik of Bukit Tambun state, Youth and Sports exco Daniel Z.S. Gooi, and Penang Development Corporation CEO Datuk Aziz Bakar were also in attendance.
Chow added that Penang now accounts for 45% of Malaysia’s medical tourism earnings, making it its leading destination.
He continued by saying that Penang has effectively solidified its standing as a top medical tourism destination in Southeast Asia and the world with this recent development.
“The local economy will be greatly impacted by tourists’ arrival in Penang Medi-City, particularly through the stimulation of the business ecosystem and the creation of new opportunities.”
“In addition to helping the healthcare industry, this project will create opportunities for small and medium-sized businesses to expand and offer a crucial platform for skill development and career advancement,” he stated.
According to Wong Hon Wai, the exco of the State Tourism and Creative Economy Committee, “medical tourists” go overseas for wellness programs, checkups, and medical care.
“I think more people will choose Penang as a destination, not only because of our excellent medical facilities but also because of our tourism offerings, now that tourists from China and India are exempt from visa requirements,” he stated.
In an effort to draw medical tourists, Wong continued, the Malaysia Healthcare Travel Council is also growing its partnerships with organizations in the Middle East.
Tan Sri Chan Kong Choy, executive chairman of the FBG group, stated that the 235.8-acre mixed development will incorporate a variety of healthcare options, ranging from wellness, post-treatment, and rehabilitation to diagnostic and preventive care.
“The development project demonstrates our shared goal with PDC to establish Penang as a premier regional medical centre that offers a full range of healthcare and medical-related facilities,” he stated.
At least 30 per cent of the 51.17-acre project’s initial phase will be dedicated to medical and healthcare facilities, according to FBG’s commitment.
These will consist of a wellness centre, healthcare facility, 200-bed speciality hospital, and associated facilities. The remaining 70% of the property will be set aside for infrastructure and mixed-use development.
Additionally, according to Chan, the medical facilities offer speciality care in areas including women’s and children’s health, cancer, heart disease, and wellness, as well as related medical services like pharmaceuticals, medical school, nursing school, and traditional Chinese medicine.
To create a sustainable urban enclave, there will be residential, retail, and commercial components in addition to the healthcare centre.
It is anticipated that the development’s initial phase will be finished in eight years.
