Malaysia Healthcare has been advocating a move from curative care to preventive health and wellness, encouraging healthier lifestyles.

It has introduced a new Premium Wellness Programme, which is an industry-wide collaboration between private hospitals, hotels and travel companies in the country to integrate comprehensive health screening, world-class accommodation and leisure tour offerings into one comprehensive premium package for healthcare travellers.

“Malaysia Healthcare warmly welcomes healthcare travellers, especially health and wellness enthusiasts eager to seek preventive care and wellness treatments to take advantage of this programme,” said Mohd Daud Mohd Arif, Chief Executive Officer of the Malaysia Healthcare Travel Council (MHTC). “In addition to health screening according to your age, gender and current health status, patients can choose to add on dental, aesthetic and cosmetic procedures, as well as having more targeted screenings for diseases like Hepatitis C, cancer and heart-related diseases.”

Malaysia has a solid reputation as a destination for travel and healthcare, attracting 1.06 million European tourists and 1.22 million healthcare travellers in 2019. It offers specific treatments such as cardiology, oncology, fertility, orthopaedics, neurology and aesthetics, such as bariatric treatments, dental and other services.

The country has over 250 healthcare facilities, regulated by the Ministry of Health Malaysia (MOH) and globally recognised. Prices are regulated, with the MOH overseeing ceiling rates for healthcare treatments, so that healthcare travellers are assured they are getting a fair price for the treatment they choose.

Earlier this year, ITIJ examined Malaysia’s travel insurance market and its development.