Malaysia’s healthcare travel industry expected to contribute to economic revival

Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin (left) with the CEO of MHTC Mohd Daud Mohd Arif.

PUTRAJAYA, March 21 – Malaysia’s healthcare travel industry is expected to pay a significant role in reviving the country’s economy as it transitions into the endemic phase of the Covid-19 virus, says Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin.

The minister recently endorsed strategies and plans for 2022 put forth by the Malaysia Healthcare Travel Council (MHTC), which has been tasked to facilitate and promote the growth of Malaysia’s healthcare travel industry globally, a statement from MHTC said today.

The strategies and initiatives are anchored upon the Malaysia Healthcare Travel Industry Blueprint 2021-2025, launched on 1 November 2021 by Khairy, who is also Co-Chairman of MHTC.

The initiatives will be implemented in two main phases, where under the Recovery Phase (2021-2022), the idea will be to reinforce awareness on Malaysia Healthcare’s world- class quality offerings and enhance the patient experience through digitalisation of key touchpoints, creation of more strategic partnerships, unified branding efforts as well as raising Malaysian global icons for healthcare. 

Under the Rebuild Phase (2023-2025), industry players will 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. 

Currently in the Recovery Phase, 2022’s initiatives will be focused 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.  

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.

With the reopening of Malaysia’s borders this April 1st, the Recovery phase will witness cohesive effort by industry players and enables to reverse the effects of the pandemic on the economy in a sustainable manner while staying ahead of competitors.

This year, several key initiatives will be also implemented to push the industry’s growth including 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 as well as opening up for foreign direct investment by way of pharmaceutical research and development, medical innovations, and technological research.

Edited By RK Indumathini