Assalamualaikum and greetings from Malaysia Healthcare.
Happy New Year! I hope you had a great start to the year and have been keeping safe. What a year it had been – 2021 proved to be a persistently turbulent year for the global healthcare travel industry, including Malaysia. However, it didn’t stop us to welcome foreign patients back to #experienceMalaysiaHealthcare at our shores within stringent SOPs and provide them the continuity of care through the medical travel bubble programme.
We have also charted a new course for a continuous and sustainable industry growth, which has been strategically proposed for roll-out over the next four years from now, guided by the Malaysia Healthcare Travel Industry Blueprint 2021-2025. With the Blueprint, we aim to improve the healthcare travel ecosystem and grow the Malaysia Healthcare brand within the targeted markets, namely Indonesia, China, Singapore, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong, Cambodia, Vietnam, the United Kingdom, the United States, Brunei and Middle East. These strategies ultimately will allow us uphold commitment in providing quality healthcare to international patients that is accessible and affordable, within a safe and trusted destination.
Local and international media also continued to play a vital role in driving the growth of Malaysia Healthcare brand and there’s no better way than to honour them with the third installment of the Medical Travel Media Awards (MTMA). We received a total of 420 submissions from a total of 15 markets, competing for six highly competitive award categories. Once again, MHTC would like to congratulate all the winners and we hope the media members would continue to be our brand ambassadors to position Malaysia as a safe and trusted healthcare travel destination.
This is only the start of Malaysia Healthcare’s journey to recovering and rebuilding the industry. Together, let’s rebuild the sector upon the existing confidence and trust in Malaysia as a safe and trusted healthcare travel destination and retain our competitiveness. More importantly, placing patient centricity as a key strategy moving forward as we place patients’ needs and experiences at the centre of our decision making.
Thank you.
Mohd Daud Mohd ArifKey insights into how the medical tourism industry is evolving to meet changing demands and challenges to remain competitive
Innovative technologies such as, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Virtual Reality (VR), Augmented Reality (AR), and Big Data & Analytics play a crucial role in shaping marketing strategies in medical tourism. Ex. Chatbots, virtual assistants, virtual facility tours
Content personalisation, omnichan- nel marketing, and Customer Relationship Management (CRM) integration can create a seamless, consistent experience for the patient.
Communicate and reflect your commitment to environmental sustainability (eco-friendly practices), ethical business practices, and community engagement.
Identify relevant influencers, create engaging content, and leverage social media platforms to showcase the services and products offered and maximise reach & impact.
Localised content, partnerships with local providers, and targeted advertising ensures that the marketing tailored to the audience(s) and their location.
Optimise marketing through responsive website design, mobile advertising, and mobile apps for interactivity, functionality, and convenience.
Expand your reach, enhance patient experience, and promote long-term patient engagement to maintain relationships and broaden the target audience(s).
Tracking and measuring performance, segmentation and personalisation, and predictive analytics to maximise marketing efforts and the return on investment.
Enhance your reputation and attract more patients through highlighting sustainable initiatives, promoting ethical medical practises, and transparency of pricing and policies.
Reflect your commitment to practices through highlighting comprehensive care, showcasing patient-centric facilities, and sharing patient testimonials.
Healthcare is a slow-moving industry, and nowadays, most organisations within the healthcare sector are starting to implement new tools and methods in medicine. These tools aim to make healthcare better, more cost-effective, and to detect diseases early. Here are the 8 biggest healthcare trends and opportunities to watch for in the future!
Searches for "AI and healthcare" have surged by 540% over the past five years. The primary role of AI is to augment the intelligence of healthcare professionals rather than substituting their expertise. Ex. Aidoc uses AI to help radiologist spot visual abnormalities in CT scans and other medical scans.
Personalised healthcare (PHC) involves tailoring medical treatments to individual needs, employing precision medicine for improved outcomes and reduced costs. One of the major reasons why it has become a fast-growing healthcare trend is due to the emergence of new, low-cost genetic testing products.
Wearable devices are now more connected to healthcare. In 2018, the FDA approved the Apple Watch as a medical device. It can perform ECG tests and detect atrial fibrillation. Other wearables, such as Oura Ring and Fitbit, have conducted similar health studies.
Accenture's 2020 survey shows that 62% of healthcare consumers favour virtual healthcare, with 57% interested in remote monitoring for ongoing health issues and 52% choosing virtual care for routine appointments. Telehealth offers an efficient and hygienic treatment option, which could help reduce the burden on the healthcare system.
Non-medical factors which may impact one’s physical/mental health. Ex. Wealth, accessibility
Chronic conditions can be caused by behavioural issues and other preventable causes. Ex. Overeating, smoking, avoiding exercise.
Big corporations are developing telehealth services & healthcare bundles. Ex. Amazon Care (Amazon), Medical Digital Assist and Cityblock (Alphabet)
On-demand healthcare, varying levels of coverage from a wide selection of options (paying for what one needs), lowering costs.
MHTC offered an exclusive opportunity that was unveiled during a recent media training session, a comprehensive 6-month media bundle package specially designed for participating hospitals. The main aim is to provide participating hospitals with a strategic and integrated approach to media relations, ultimately enhancing visibility and reputation.
Leveraging on MHTC’s strong network with Tourism Malaysia in Brunei, MHTC participated in the prestigious Sabre Travel Fair. This exciting opportunity opened doors for collaboration and engagement between our esteemed hospitals and the expatriate community in Brunei.
Key activities include:
An initiative led by MHTC in collaboration with key stakeholders, including Tourism Malaysia, Tourism Selangor, and esteemed member hospitals. This collaborative effort which covered Penang, Kuala Lumpur, and Selangor respectively, aimed to engage international media and promote Malaysia’s healthcare excellence on a global scale.
Media representatives from Bangladesh, Indonesia, Philippines, and Malaysia actively participated in this initiative, adding a diverse and international perspective.
Inaugurated by Mr. Syed Moinuddin, Chief Guest, MHTC successfully hosted Malaysia Healthcare Week, aligning with World Mental Health Awareness Month.
Held in collaboration with MHTC’S Referral Partner in Bangladesh, GD Assist Ltd, the one-day fair presented exciting activities, engaging workshops, and invigorating dialogue sessions aimed at promoting healthcare and community well-being.
As part of MHTC’s ongoing efforts to proactively create top of mind awareness, MHTC brought the MH Pop-Up Booth in Surabaya, a unique approach aimed at continuously strengthening and solidifying Malaysia Healthcare’s presence in the city. This innovative initiative provided a valuable opportunity to enhance hospital branding, showcase offerings, and engage with the local community.
This is a collaborative effort between the Malaysia Healthcare Travel Council (MHTC) and Flagship Finalists from the Flagship Medical Tourism Hospital Programme (FMTH). The FAM trip was participated by media representatives from selected countries, namely Australia, Bangladesh, Brunei, Indonesia, and Philippines.
This event presents a unique platform to showcase the flagship hospital’s centers of excellence and highlight key features, including cutting-edge technology, world-class infrastructure, and exceptional service.
MHTC’s recent successful participation in the MM2H Expo in Hong Kong partnering with Starcity provided a valuable platform to showcase Malaysia as an attractive destination to reside in, with a special focus on the outstanding healthcare services that we offer.
Malaysia Healthcare Travel Council (MHTC) completed its annual assessment for the Flagship Medical Tourism Hospital (FMTH) finalists. The assessment was led by Mr. Devaraj Subramaniam, Mr. Hong Huei Tan and Dr. James Liew from IQVIA Solutions Malaysia along with programme leads from MHTC.
During the assessment, a knowledge-sharing session was also organised by Mr. Royston Lek, Executive Director for Asia Pacific at Mayo Clinic, where he shared success stories and case studies on healthcare excellence and maintaining medical and service excellence.
These FMTH finalists have shown remarkable progress in less than 12 months since the last assessment in Q3 2022, excelling in Medical Excellence, Service Excellence, and International Branding. Their dedication is evident in successful tech implementations, clinical outcomes, Centre of Excellence (CoE) accreditations, talent investments, regional recognitions/awards, and positive NPS scores.
We look forward to the finalists continuing their efforts until 2025 as part of the Flagship Acceleration phase. This initiative aims to establish top-tier Flagship hospitals, representing Malaysia with a strong brand presence, making Malaysia the premier destination for the Best Healthcare Travel Experience by 2025.
As part of MHTC’s collaborative efforts with Maybank Indonesia, MHTC facilitated Subang Jaya Medical Centre to share insights on Genetic Screening with Maybank Indonesia’s premier clients through a health talk, presented by Ms. Yoon Choon, Genetic Counsellor.
MHTC arranged a meeting with Jiahui International Hospital (Jia Hui) to discuss patient referrals to Malaysia, building upon the foundation laid during our engagement meeting in China. The meetings included comprehensive presentations from both parties, wherein the respective hospitals highlighted their services and unique value propositions, and areas where mutual cooperation could lead to enhanced healthcare services and strengthened partnerships between our institutions.
The fourth edition of MTMA was a roaring success! MHTC sends its heartfelt congratulations to all the outstanding winners who have demonstrated unparalleled excellence in media travel journalism! This celebration not only recognizes the achievements of passionate talents from media and influencers but also highlights their dedication to advancing the healthcare industry. It’s evident that these individuals are the driving force behind positive change in the healthcare narrative, and their contributions have and will continue to be impactful.
A significant achievement from MHTC’s recent participation at Oman Health 2023, held from 18 – 20 September 2023. During the event, MHTC’s team successfully secured a meeting with the Directorate of Treatment Abroad, Ministry of Health Oman, focusing on the empanelment of MHTC member hospitals for patient referrals.
MHTC hosted a FAM visit from National Committee for Treatment Abroad, Ministry of Health, Oman. The delegation included:
