KUALA LUMPUR (June 1): KL Wellness City Sdn Bhd has officially launched KL Wellness City (KLWC), the first purpose-built, fully integrated healthcare and wellness development, on Thursday (June 1) at the KLWC Gallery in Bukit Jalil, Kuala Lumpur.

With a gross development value of RM11 billion and spanning over 26.49 acres, KLWC will feature components including The Nobel Healthcare Park consisting of medical, wellness, business and retail suites, plus the KL International Hospital (KLIH), laboratories, clinical research and development (R&D) facilities, healthcare company office towers, a retirement resort, wellness-centric serviced apartments and a fitness-based Central Park, among others.

KL Wellness City’s managing director Datuk Colin Lee said, “In full support of Malaysia’s national plan to be recognised as one of the best places for medical tourism, KL Wellness City is designed to provide and prioritise health and well-being as the heart of its development, through its vision of a 360-degree wellness hub centred around its township which encompasses all aspects of medical care, health, wellness, fitness, and business, complete with residential, retail, and commercial offerings.”

With a proposed investment of RM860 million, the flagship KLIH will feature 624 beds and be scalable to a 1,000-bed capacity. The hospital will offer healthcare services including wellness and fitness facilities such as cardiology, spine health, neuro health, sports medicine, cosmetic surgery, and fertility, with R&D laboratories and facilities for clinical studies.

KLIH, set to be in operation in the first half of 2026, will create over 3,000 job opportunities for medical professionals, including medical specialists, doctors, nurses, pharmacists and technicians, the statement said.

Other than being a destination for medical tourism, Lee said the KLWC development is also an initiative that is built with an ageing nation in mind. “The [KLWC] master plan incorporates thousands of facilities and residences. This [development] is a significant step towards embracing an ageing nation, with facilities for comprehensive healthcare dedicated to well-being through elderly care, retirement resorts, as well as independent and assisted living.”

The statement pointed out that Malaysia, having attained its status as an ageing nation, has an ageing population growing at a faster-than-expected rate where more than 15% of its population will be above the age of 65 by 2050.

In response to this shift in population demographics, the statement said Malaysia is currently in pursuit of the World Health Organization's Universal Health Coverage and Sustainable Development Goals, which is to provide equitable healthcare and wellness for all.