( CNN ) -- When they can see the world , save cash and get that surgery you wanted , it 's no wonder that increasing numbers of travelers are hopping on a jet in search of cut-price healthcare . The worldwide medical tourism industry is said to be growing by up to 25 % each year as patients with passports head abroad for procedures costing as much as 80 % less than at home . Partly fueled by 1.2 million Americans , it 's a sector now estimated to be worth up to $ 55 billion . But where are the best destinations for medical tourism ? Last month , the UK-based International Medical Travel Journal staged its first annual award ceremony recognizing what it says are the top facilities offering treatment to visitors . While many of these establishments offer care for potentially life-threatening cancer or heart problems , patients are just as likely to be seeking cosmetic work to their face , teeth or torso . IMTJ 's managing editor Keith Pollard says the awards , staged in Dubai , are the industry 's first independent stamps of approval on medical tourism providers . Airline travel discounts part of package . `` All our winners exemplify the way the medical tourism industry should be run -- professional , offering exceptional patient care and providing the best possible medical outcomes , '' Pollard says . The IMTJ divided its winners into categories , including best hospital , specialist patient center , dental clinic , fertility clinic , travel agency and website . Malaysia emerged as one of the prime destinations , with victories in three categories . Gleneagles Kuala Lumpur , a 330-bed care center that offers airline travel discounts to inbound patients on its website , took the hospital accolade . Kuala Lumpur 's Prince Court Medical Center won best fertility clinic , while its International Dental Specialist Center was named as the best place for teeth tuneups . Jordan was named as the best overall destination for what judges said was a remarkable success in handling 250,000 international patients . Click here for a full list of the 2014 Medical Travel Awards winners .
Worldwide medical tourism industry said to be growing by up to 25 % each year . Comment: Malaysian facilities scooped three awards , winning in hospital , dental and fertility clinic categories .