CHINA’S NATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR THE NON-GOVERNMENT HEALTHCARE SECTOR VISITED MALAYSIA, EXPLORING PARTNERSHIP AND CROSS-BORDER HEALTHCARE COLLABORATION

 

MHTC hosted 30–40 senior Chinese healthcare leaders for hospital familiarisation programme under Malaysia Year of Medical Tourism 2026 (MYMT 2026) initiative

KUALA LUMPUR, April 29 (Bernama) -- The Malaysia Healthcare Travel Council (MHTC) hosted a delegation of 30 to 40 senior healthcare decision-makers from the Chinese Non-government Medical Institutions Association (CNMIA) for a hospital familiarisation (FAM) visit from 26 to 30 April 2026. The visit, organised under the Malaysia Year of Medical Tourism 2026 (MYMT 2026) initiative, introduced China’s largest private healthcare coordinating body to Malaysia’s medical tourism ecosystem through curated hospital tours and strategic discussions.

The visit took place amid accelerating demand from China. Healthcare traveller volume from China grew from 50,000 in 2021 to 121,000 in 2025, while revenue more than tripled, from RM54.4 million to RM200.4 million over the same period. The sharpest growth was recorded between 2023 and 2025, reflecting renewed confidence and stronger patient movement following the pandemic.

Commenting on the visit, MHTC Chief Executive Officer Suriaghandi Suppiah said: “We have seen remarkable growth in the trust and confidence that Chinese patients place in Malaysia’s healthcare system, and this visit reflects the depth of that relationship. CNMIA represents over 500,000 medical institutions across China, and their decision to bring senior decision-makers to Malaysia is a strong signal of mutual confidence. Our goal is to build enduring partnerships that benefit patients on both sides connecting China’s healthcare leaders with the clinical excellence and patient-centred care that define the Malaysia Healthcare experience.”

Approved by the State Council of China, CNMIA represents over 500,000 medical institutions, including approximately 27,000 hospitals. It serves as a key coordinating body within China’s private healthcare sector, connecting providers, investors, and policymakers while facilitating service standards and international collaboration.

For MHTC, engaging CNMIA signals a shift from broad market outreach to targeted institutional partnerships that directly influence referral pathways and cross-border collaboration. Chinese institutions are increasingly seeking stable, regionally accessible destinations for medical partnerships, and Malaysia’s combination of geographical proximity, competitive costs, multilingual support, and hospitality-driven care positions it as a compelling alternative within Asia.

The delegation comprised investors, hospital chairpersons, presidents, clinical leaders, and specialists in international medical tourism from leading non-government medical groups and specialty centres across China. As part of the programme, the delegation undertook a series of curated visits to several of Malaysia’s leading private healthcare institutions, including Alpha IVF & Women’s Specialists, Prince Court Medical Centre, Gleneagles Hospital Kuala Lumpur, Cengild G.I Medical Centre as well as our Flagship Medical Tourism Hospital Accolades Winner, Subang Jaya Medical Centre. These engagements provided first-hand exposure to Malaysia’s healthcare capabilities while creating opportunities for deeper institutional engagement and future collaboration.

Suriaghandi added: “MYMT 2026 is our invitation to the world to experience what Malaysia’s healthcare system has to offer. When CNMIA’s delegation visits our hospitals and meets our clinicians, they will see first-hand what Healing Meets Hospitality means in practice—clinical excellence delivered within an experience built around the patient. We look forward to welcoming them and to exploring how Malaysia and China can work more closely together in healthcare.”

About Malaysia Healthcare Travel Council
 
Malaysia Healthcare Travel Council (MHTC), established in 2009 under the purview of the Ministry of Health (MOH) Malaysia, is entrusted with developing and nurturing the “Malaysia Healthcare” brand. MHTC enhances, coordinates, and promotes Malaysia’s healthcare travel industry by fostering industry collaborations and building valuable public-private partnerships both domestically and internationally. With 80 member hospitals nationwide, MHTC continues to elevate the healthcare travel ecosystem through strong branding, seamless patient experiences, and strategic market initiatives. In line with these efforts, MHTC is spearheading the Malaysia Year of Medical Tourism (MYMT) 2026, the nation’s first dedicated year to celebrate and advance healthcare travel. MYMT 2026 serves as a milestone initiative to showcase Malaysia’s world-class healthcare offerings, strengthen its position as the premier global healthcare destination, and highlight the industry’s significant contribution to the national economy.
 
More information can be found at https://www.malaysiahealthcare.org  

SOURCE: Malaysia Healthcare Travel Council (MHTC)

FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT: 
Name: Mohamad Shahizam Fauzi                                                       
Head, Communications
Tel: +603 8776 6168                      
Email: shahizam.f@mhtc.org.my
 
Name: Muhammad Rasydan Ma’at                                         
Head of Unit, Communications
Tel: +603 8776 6168          
Email: rasydan.m@mhtc.org.my

--BERNAMA