The Malaysia Healthcare Travel Council (MHTC) recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Malaysia’s first digital healthcare platform, DoctorOnCall, to facilitate continuity of patient care.
The collaboration sees MHTC’s 75 member hospitals getting access to the platform’s digital healthcare capabilities to provide telehealth services, allowing healthcare travellers to continue consultations with doctors in Malaysia in light of travel restrictions.
The unprecedented turn of events such as the closing of international borders have disrupted several of the nation’s key economic sectors including healthcare travel, which saw an impact of over 50 per cent drop in revenue. However, it has played to its strengths, ensuring industry resilience and future recovery through digital services and platforms to address the needs of healthcare travellers.
“Throughout the pandemic, our member hospitals continued to receive enquiries from those seeking healthcare services in Malaysia,” said Yazmin Azman, Acting CEO of MHTC.
“We have been working closely with these member hospitals towards fulfilling that need and providing a safe albeit virtual access to doctors and specialists via digital channels. Our partnership with DoctorOnCall is a step in the right and necessary direction as we look to develop additional telehealth support for our patients.
“This also further enhances Malaysia’s position as a trusted destination for medical treatments anchored around quality, affordability and accessibility.
Maran Virumandi said: Since our inception in 2017, DoctorOnCall has grown from a platform for virtual consultations to one offering e-pharmacy, medication delivery, doctor and specialist bookings, and health content to over two million patients who visit our platform monthly.
It is our honour to partner with a brand like Malaysia Healthcare and extend that range of accessibility in healthcare to foreign patients who place their trust in our skilled doctors. We look forward to this partnership and contributing to the healthcare travel sector as a key driver in the nation’s economic growth,” said Maran Virumandi Managing Director & Co-Founder of DoctorOnCall.
The Covid-19 pandemic has seen an encouraging growth in telehealth services such as virtual consultations and is expected to grow exponentially in Asia Pacific over the next five years. Telehealth, in the current global scenario, serves as a means for maintaining continuity in patient care and managing additional costs associated with healthcare travel. Combining affordability with telehealth initiatives will be key for industry recovery moving forward, presenting an opportunity to better facilitate doctor-patient communications.
“Our collaboration with DoctorOnCall is only the beginning for MHTC to embark further in digital healthcare as a key component in delivering superior healthcare services to foreign patients. We definitely welcome other digital providers in the industry to reach out to us to explore areas of collaboration in improving patient experience and to elevate Malaysia’s standing as the World’s Healthcare Marvel,” added Yazmin.
As Malaysia moves into post pandemic recovery, healthcare travel has been earmarked as a key sector for growth for the nation’s travel and tourism industry aligned to the National Tourism Policy (DPN) 2020-2030. Along with enhancing digital support for foreign patients, Malaysia Healthcare will continue to strengthen its position as the Fertility and Cardiology Hubs of Asia, in addition to promoting the country’s unique proposition as a wellness destination, inviting travellers to seek health and wellness treatments at the World’s Healthcare Marvel once border restrictions ease.
