- Malaysia is the recipient of “Destination of the Year” for the third time in a row at the International Medical Travel Journal (IMTJ) Awards 2017 in Opatija.
- The recognition was judged by a team of 23 judges, chosen for their experience in the medical tourism sector
- Malaysia Healthcare Travel Council (MHTC) or better known as Malaysia Healthcare, was also awarded the title of “Health and Medical Tourism Cluster of the Year” for the first time
CROATIA, 27 APRIL 2017 – Malaysia is recognized as the recipient of “Destination of the Year” for the third time in a row at the International Medical Travel Journal (IMTJ) Awards 2017 in Opatija. Being acknowledged as the top leading medical tourism destination at an international platform, the award cements the country’s reputation for providing top notch and innovative healthcare.
“We are humbled to be given this recognition once again. We must ensure that the title entrusted on us is maintained and upheld. Having created awareness that Malaysia is a viable option as a medical tourism destination, we must now raise that awareness to an unprecedented level. We have much work to do,” said Sherene Azli, Chief Executive Officer of Malaysia Healthcare.
This recognition was judged by a team of 23 judges, chosen for their experience in the medical tourism sector such as Keith Pollard, the Managing Editor for IMTJ and the Chairman of the Judging Panel, UK; Ilan Geva, President of Ilan Geva & Friends, USA; Dr Claudia Mika, Managing Director of TEMOS International GmbH, Germany; Dato’ Dr. Jacob Thomas, President of Association of Private Hospitals in Malaysia (APHM), Malaysia; and Elizabeth Ziemba, President of Medical Tourism Training Inc, USA; just to name a few of the elite judges.
The judges looked for all-round excellence in promoting inbound medical tourism, verified statistics of yearly growth in medical tourists served, evidence of high levels of patient satisfaction and co-ordinated activities that delivered an increase in medical tourism.
Malaysia Healthcare Travel Council (MHTC) or better known as Malaysia Healthcare, was also awarded the title of “Health and Medical Tourism Cluster of the Year” for the first time. The award recognises efforts by a health or medical tourism cluster or association that demonstrates unparalleled qualities in organising, managing and stewarding medical or health tourism organisations and enterprises under its umbrella.
Malaysia’s private hospitals also took the prize of several awards during the event. The awards include:
- International Hospital of the Year – Winner: Sunway Medical Centre
- Best Marketing Initiative – Winner: Sunway Medical Centre
- International Fertility Clinic of the Year – Winner: TMC Fertility Centre
- Best Quality Initiative – Highly Commendable: Sunway Medical Centre
“IMTJ is pleased to confer these awards to Malaysia, MHTC and Malaysian private hospitals, in recognition of the healthcare services they provide, par excellence, to health seekers all around the world. Malaysia Healthcare is, without a doubt, a rising force in the world of global healthcare,” commented Keith Pollard, Chief Editor of IMTJ and the CEO of Intuition Communications Ltd, IMTJ’s parent company.
The IMTJ award proves further testament to Malaysia Healthcare’s success at building bridges within international healthcare, travel, adding to its long list of accolades, which includes “Best Country in the World for Health Care” by International Living’s Annual Global Retirement Index 2015-2017 and “Public Private Partnership Medical Travel Destination of the Year” at the 8th Annual World Medical Tourism & Global Healthcare Congress. Receiving the title increases Malaysia’s profile as a healthcare travel destination.
“Healthcare in Malaysia is highly accessible, competitively affordable and of world-class quality. Patient safety and care are paramount and assured by the high standards mandated by stringent government regulations set by the Ministry of Health Malaysia and how industry stakeholders such as the Association of Private Hospitals of Malaysia (APHM), Tourism Malaysia, Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (MATRADE), Immigration Department of Malaysia, and Malaysian Investment Development Authority (MIDA) come together and take a concerted effort in promoting this industry for the country as a whole. We are proud that the world is taking increasing notice of the high-value healthcare services Malaysia is able to deliver,” commented Sherene Azli.
The Malaysia Healthcare Travel Council (MHTC), is an agency set up in 2009 under the Ministry of Health to facilitate and promote Malaysia’s healthcare travel industry. As a coordinating agency, MHTC strives to facilitate the focused development of the healthcare travel sector in Malaysia, which includes building strategic public-private partnerships domestically and abroad, in a bid to create increasingly easier access to Malaysian healthcare for international patients.
