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

Yazmin

Maran Virumandi

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 .

Repsol Malaysia recently collaborated with the Ministry of Health ( MoH ) and the Ministry of Education ( MoE ) to launch its Thalassemia awareness campaign , ‘ NowyouSEEme ’.

This campaign aims to educate secondary school students on the medical condition to be better informed and to play an active role in society to manage and eventually eradicate the disease .

The ‘ NowyouSEEme ’ initiative gives students the opportunity to display their creativity in communicating their understanding and information about Thalassaemia on social media and through competitions organised in their respective schools . Fifty schools from Kelantan , Terengganu and Pahang have been selected in the first phase of this campaign before it is continued in the other states .

Repsol Malaysia Director Pablo Ortolá Martínez said , “ Since 2013 , Repsol Malaysia has been committed to support the Thalassemia communities locally and the efforts to create awareness about this disorder .

“ The goal we are working towards is to get the community involved in the fight against the disease to reduce the Thalassaemia birth rates in Malaysia by as much as 95 per cent by year 2038 . With the support of the MoH and MoE on this campaign , we are able to achieve this by engaging an important group of people – the students –

more effectively and impactfully .”

Repsol Malaysia started its own efforts eight years ago in Sabah by working with local NGOs that are directly involved in supporting Thalassemia communities . They then expanded the effort to the rural areas of Terengganu working with a Hulu Terengganu hospital to set up the first Thalassemia Day Care centre by a private entity .

Speaking at the virtual launch of the event , Minister of Health Datuk Seri Dr Adham Baba said : “ Thalassemia is a medical condition that is common among Malaysians . As of 2018 , there were officially 8,681 registered patients in Malaysia , and that number has been growing since . Education on the disease is crucial and that is why we are supportive of Repsol Malaysia ’ s efforts in contributing towards the

Thalassemia campaign .”

Also attending virtually was Deputy Minister of Education 1 Muslimin Yahaya who said : “ Education beyond classroom learning is important for students , especially with a topic such as Thalassemia . Repsol Malaysia ’ s approach of tapping into the students ’ creativity and leveraging the online platform reflects how we will navigate this new reality of learning .”

The ‘ NowyouSEEme ’ activities will officially run from March 15 to Aug 18 2021 whereby students will be submitting their contest entries online and through the facilitators in their respective schools . There are over RM18,000 cash prizes along with trophies which will be awarded to the winners on Oct 6 , 2021 .

MesTRON Holdings Bhd has clarified it did not obtain approval or a clearance letter from the Ministry of Health ( MoH ) to purchase or distribute Covid-19 vaccines in Malaysia .

The listed company said its intention was to explore and venture into the vaccine distribution business by partnering with China-based Zhongyu Yexing ( Chengdu ) Industrial Co Ltd . It said this in a statement on Jan 31 after the MoH denied granting approval or issuing letters of permission to private parties for the purpose .

The MoH had denied reports citing Mestron as saying it had received permission from the ministry to begin the negotiation process .

“ Only the ministry has the authority to manage access to and the purchase of Covid-19 vaccines . It is in line with the ministry ’ s duty in managing medical affairs via its agencies , namely the National Pharmaceutical Regulatory Division ,” it said .

Mestron had earlier said it had signed a heads of agreement with Zhongyu Yexing to distribute Covid-19 vaccines in Malaysia .

Mestron ’ s Managing Director Por Teong Eng said the company had obtained the clearance letter from the MoH to commence negotiation and cooperation with any company from China for the importation , distribution , sale , marketing , use and application of Covid-19 vaccines in Malaysia .

Zhongyu is part of the Sino Pharma Group of Companies and is one of the authorised distributors for Sinopharm ’ s China National Biotech Group Covid-19 vaccines .