“The previous government imposed 6% GST.. we didn’t impose service tax because we want to help those who need to seek treatment.

“We lose billions there, so we hope this would help to reduce the cost of private health care,” he told reporters after the launch of three new services at Mount Miriam Cancer Hospital here today.

Also present at the event were Penang Agriculture, Agro-based Industries, Rural Development and Health Committee chairman Dr Afif Bahardin, Bukit Bendera member of parliament Wong Hon Wai and Mount Miriam chief executive officer Joan Lim-Choong.

Lim said he had asked Afif to arrange a meeting him with private hospital representatives in Penang to discuss their plans on medical tourism, which comes under the purview of the Finance Ministry.

He hoped private hospitals could reduce their cost to encourage more health tourists to seek treatment in the country.

Doing so would increase the volume of foreign patients, and make it more more profitable, particularly in the face of intense competition from neighbouring countries which were also promoting their own health tourism, he said.

Nevertheless, he said, despite the competition, Malaysia was still ahead, “due to quality of our professional servicing, our affordability and being a nice place to recuperate”.

Lim who is Air Putih assemblyman, launched three new services at Mount Miriam Cancer Hospital.