Malaysia Healthcare Travel Council (MHTC) has received seal of approval from Minister of Health, Khary Jamaluddin to facilitate and promote the growth of Malaysia’s healthcare travel industry globally.
YB Khairy, who is also Co-Chairman of MHTC is confident that these strategies will play a significant role in reviving the economy as we transition into endemicity.
The strategies and initiatives will be implemented in two main phases, namely, Recovery Phase (2021-2022) and Rebuild Phase. The Recovery Phase is to reinforce awareness on Malaysia Healthcare’s world-class quality offerings and enhance the patient experience through digitalisation of keytouchpoints, creation of more strategic partnerships, unified branding efforts as well as raising Malaysian global icons for healthcare; whilst the Rebuild Phase (2023-2025) is to have the industry players to collectively work together to amplify awareness on Malaysia Healthcare’s niche offerings such as the Fertility Hub of Asia, Cardiology Hub of Asia and the Cancer Care Centre of Excellence.
To recap, the strategies and initiatives are launched on 1 November 2021 by YB Khairy and anchored upon the Malaysia Healthcare Travel Industry Blueprint 2021-2025.
Malaysia’s healthcare travel industry generated RM551 million in revenues based on hospital receipts, 6% above targeted revenue goal for 2021. This achievement was largely driven by the implementation of a stringently monitored Medical Travel Bubble, vigorous G2G and B2B engagements, 18 industry partnerships contributing to the volume of inbound patients, alongside continuous branding, and awareness initiatives to keep international customer base informed on Malaysia’s commitment to being a safe and trusted healthcare destination.
This year, Malaysia Healthcare is expected to implement several key initiatives in catalysing further industry growth which includes the launch of a One Stop Portal for healthcare travel,raising Malaysia’s first Flagship Medical Tourism Hospitals, establishment of more strategic partnerships to attract more inbound healthcare travellers in a safe and calibrated manner, and creating pathways for Foreign Direct Investment by way of pharmaceutical research and development, medical innovations, and technological research, allowing for a special sandbox and facilitating opportunities in setting the future state of the healthcare industry.
MHTC looks forward to fostering stronger public-private partnerships, which have been an undeniable success factor behind Malaysia healthcare’s growth. As the Government continues to invest in this industry, MHTC partners with key players from the public sector such as the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture, Tourism Malaysia, the Immigration Department of Malaysia, Ministry of Finance, and Ministry of Health as well as the private sector such as healthcare, wellness, hospitality, tourism, transportation, and more, who have remained steadfast throughout in further growing the industry.
Currently in the Recovery Phase, 2022’s initiatives will be focussed towards laying a solid foundation for the Rebuild Phase, aiming to generate RM800 million in revenues through continuous efforts to elevate Malaysia’s position as a safe and trusted destination for healthcare. Through these efforts, Malaysia Healthcare is expected to encourage increase in job creation, spill over effects boosting other economic sectors while also spurring new opportunities in nurturing a more future forward industry.
