Figures for the number of medical tourists for last year are not available yet, but industry professionals forecast a 10 per cent drop because of the worsening global economy.

Singapore attracted about 571,000 medical tourists in 2007, up from 410,000 in 2006, according to the Singapore Tourism Board (STB). They spent about $1.7 billion in 2007.

Read Wong Mei Ling's full story in tomorrow's edition of The Sunday Times.