Mohd Daud Mohd Arif , CEO of Malaysia Healthcare Travel Council ( MHTC )
WHO goals , ( which are to ) reduce infections , decrease deaths , finding the missing millions and diagnose patients , and treat almost all eligible patients , putting us on the path to eliminate HCV by 2030 ,” he said .
Malaysia is also well positioned to attract more overseas retirees looking for a comfortable country to spend their post-work years , Mohd Daud believes , due mostly to the fact that “ Malaysia has gained popularity as a safe and trusted healthcare destination due to our world-class quality , ease of accessibility , and comparative affordability .”
That trust comes from the fact that many of Malaysia ’ s private hospitals have been accredited by reputable organisations like the Joint Commission International and Malaysia Society for Quality in Health , while quality and safety standards are closely monitored and regulated by the Ministry of Health . Similarly , rate ceilings on healthcare treatments set by the Ministry of Health ensure treatments are affordable and international patients are charged the same as locals .
In addition , many Malaysian doctors have been trained overseas or have practised outside the country , bringing with them a rich experience in dealing with non-local patients . That they can often speak several languages , including English , Bahasa Malaysia , Hindi , and Chinese , is an added bonus .
The country is also a global halal hub , with all hospitals serving only halal menus and providing prayer facilities . Muslim patients can also find porcinefree medical products , such as sutures and vaccines . All of this has led the Southeast Asian nation to be recognised as the “ Best Country in the World for Healthcare ” by International Living ’ s Global Retirement Index for four of the five years between 2015 and 2019 . Malaysia was also named “ Top Asian Country for Retirement and Healthcare ” from 2018 to 2021 .
“ Our attractiveness among retirees is also accentuated by other factors . These include Malaysia ’ s position as an ever-growing wellness sanctuary , our strategic position as a Muslim-friendly nation , its many travel sights , and a multilingual healthcare system that caters to the language preferences of patients across Asia and the world ,” he added .
The country ’ s marketing strategy was outlined in the Malaysia Healthcare Travel Industry Blueprint 2021-2025 , a long-term plan that was released last November to revive the sector . “ Our overall aspiration is to provide the best Malaysia Healthcare travel
Malaysia ’ s private hospitals have been accredited by reputable organisations like the Joint Commission International and Malaysia Society for Quality in Health .
GlobalHealthAsiaPacific . com MARCH 2022
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