KUALA LUMPUR, July 22 – KL Wellness City (KLWC) and KL International Hospital (KLIH) have signed a strategic healthcare cooperation agreement with China’s Boao LeCheng International Medical Tourism Pilot Zone, located in the Hainan Free Trade Port, marking a significant step towards transforming the regional medical tourism and healthcare innovation landscape.
KL Wellness City Sdn Bhd, in a statement, said the agreement marks the first-ever partnership between Boao LeCheng and a Malaysian hospital, establishing a significant bridge between two leading medical tourism and wellness destinations in Asia.
KLWC managing director Datuk Dr Colin Lee said the partnership underscores the shared commitment of both parties to improving health outcomes, driving medical innovation, and benefiting patients in the two countries.
“This signing ceremony marks an important milestone in cross-border medical collaboration and represents a crucial step forward in realising a healthier and more closely connected Asia. We are honoured to represent Malaysia in this landmark collaboration, which paves the way for a dynamic healthcare corridor.
“I hope this agreement will serve as a starting point for establishing a long-term cooperation mechanism and jointly writing a new chapter in international healthcare collaboration,” he said.
The agreement, which is expected to reshape the regional medical tourism and healthcare innovation landscape, was signed recently by Dr Lee and KLIH executive director Datuk Dr Jacob Thomas, together with deputy director of the LeCheng Administration, Yi Tuoxin.
KLWC executive director Datuk Seri Dr Vincent Tiew described the collaboration as a significant milestone encompassing joint initiatives in medical tourism, clinical research, cutting-edge technology exchange, and specialist training, propelling KLWC’s mission to position Malaysia as a regional hub for integrative healthcare and wellness.
“Establishing and formalising this collaboration with Boao LeCheng marks an important step in our mission to bring global healthcare innovation to Malaysia.
“This partnership also commemorates 50 years of China–Malaysia diplomatic relations and friendship. We are honoured to serve as the gateway for Boao LeCheng into Malaysia and the greater Southeast Asian region,” he said.
According to the statement, KLWC is Southeast Asia’s first fully integrated 26.5-acre township in Bukit Jalil dedicated to health and wellness, where medical, residential, commercial and leisure components are purpose-built to foster a holistic and sustainable lifestyle.
“Anchored by an international tertiary hospital and complemented by wellness suites, retirement resorts, research centres and fitness-focused infrastructure, KLWC redefines how communities live, heal and thrive.
“At the heart of KL Wellness City is KLIH, a world-class tertiary hospital approved for 624 beds, scalable to 1,000 beds. It will house 76 critical care beds, 88 high-dependency units (HDUs) and 25 state-of-the-art operating theatres,” the statement said.
KLIH, equipped with smart hospital infrastructure and advanced medical technologies, is slated to open in the second half of 2026, offering a comprehensive range of specialist and sub-specialist services for both local and international patients.
LeCheng Administration director Fu Sheng said KLWC and KLIH bring valuable expertise in healthcare operations and international medical services to the partnership.
“Boao LeCheng is internationally recognised for its access to advanced medical technologies, expedited approval pathways for novel treatments, and as a model zone for global healthcare innovation. Measuring close to 2,224 acres, it is China’s only national-level medical tourism pilot zone, directly supported by the President and the State Council of the People’s Republic of China.
“It is positioned as a hub for international medical innovation, equipped with world-class healthcare facilities and fast-track access to cutting-edge treatments and pharmaceuticals not yet available elsewhere in China. There are currently 36 operational medical institutions in Boao LeCheng, with more than 20 others under construction or in the pipeline,” the statement added.
