Northstar

8 | www.travelweekly-asia.com COVER STORY Medical Tourism As medical tourism in Asia continues to mature, travellers are going beyond cost savings in search for a more refined visage. A distinct luxury segment in medical tourism is emerging, and with it, a myriad of factors beyond the traditional parameters of medical care now matters more than ever. With more medical providers upping the ante with delivery of care outside traditional hospital settings, technology adoption and innovative healthcare access programmes, Asia Pacific is expected to see an 11.1% growth in its healthcare sector this year with a market size of US$517 billion, according to Frost & Sullivan's Asia-Pacific Healthcare Outlook 2018 report. In particular, the delivery of care is an area undergoing revolution. A big part of this is the rising class of 'medical hubs' that increasingly integrate private hospital credentials with luxury hospitality components ranging from rehabilitation and recovery treatments, alternative medicine, spa and wellness services and farm-to-table gourmet dining. Singapore's private healthcare sector push In Singapore, this development is unsurprising. The country's tourism board has over the years worked closely with healthcare sector providers in expanding their reach in key target markets, said Soo Siew Keong, director, trade engagement and market access, Singapore Tourism Board. Now, the private healthcare sector acts as the main driver for medical travel in Singapore. "These private healthcare providers are in a position to take the lead and directly drive the growth of the industry," Soo explained. When Connexion, Asia's first S$800 million (US$606 million) integrated healthcare and hospitality complex, opened in 2016 in Singapore, it sought to carve out a niche with its healthcare-hospitality fusion amid the city's increasingly sophisticated healthcare landscape. The extent of this integration is evident in the complex's layout, which combines the 220-bed facility hospital with its hospitality component, the 243-room One Farrer Hotel & Spa, in its west wing. Its east wing assembles various medical centres offering specialist treatment, health screening and preventive medicine. Beyond high-quality medical treatment delivered by its 300 accredited specialists and 600 hospital staff, medically-enabled hospitality facilities such as The Farrer Suites offer accommodation in self-contained units for the utmost comfort and privacy, replete with their own private lift system and full hotel services and amenities. More importantly, luxury is lavished through a dedicated culinary service that offers patients an extensive menu of nutritious chef cooked-to-order meals, available around the clock. SINGAPORE: MEDICAL TOURISM IN NUMBERS • Ranked 4TH GLOBALLY among medical tourism destinations • Only Asian destination to BREAK TOP FIVE RANKINGS SOURCE: 2016 MEDICAL TOURISM INDEX BY THE INTERNATIONAL HEALTHCARE. RESEARCH CENTER (IHRC). LUXURY NICHES LIGHT THE NEW FACE OF MEDICAL TOURISM IN ASIA Beyond traditional parameters of medical care, spa and wellness services, alternative treatments are defining new luxury standards. By Naomi Neoh The Touch & Feel showcase at One Farrer Hotel & Spa where guests can see items before purchasing. Green spaces: Zen Garden at HealthConnexion. "Private healthcare groups are expanding their footprint beyond Singapore to provide foreign patients easy accessibility to advanced high-quality care locally." – Jessie Khoo-Gan, executive assistant manager, sales & marketing and rooms, One Farrer Hotel & Spa.

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