Managing Kuching's thriving private healthcare industry
THERE is a good reason why after starting off with daily flights from Kuching to Kuala Lumpur and Singapore, the next destination for the Sarawak-owned AirBorneo is Jakarta.
Kuching, the capital of Sarawak, has emerged as a leading destination for private healthcare in Indonesia due to its affordable and quality medical services. AirBorneo, a Sarawak-owned carrier, is now offering direct flights from Kuching to Jakarta, catering to the growing number of Indonesian medical tourists seeking treatment in Sarawak.
These tourists are currently spoilt for choice with at least two new hospitals under construction in Kuching, a 200-bed Gleneagles Hospital set to open in 2028 and a 300-bed Regency Specialist Hospital opening in 2029. Private hospitals in Kuching have been serving West Kalimantan residents for years and their reputation for quality care has spread to Jakarta through word-of-mouth.
With the addition of these two new hospitals, the private healthcare market in Kuching will become more competitive, potentially prompting existing hospitals to re-evaluate their strategies and consider international accreditation to attract more international patients. Despite the RM300 million annual medical tourism revenue generated in Sarawak, there is significant untapped potential for growth, especially as the demand for private healthcare continues to rise within the region.
Written by urgent.news from New Straits Times's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
