THE Malaysia Healthcare Travel Council (MHTC) has signed a memorandum of understanding with DoctorOnCall to facilitate patient care online amid the current travel restrictions.
The agreement will allow MHTC’s 75 member hospitals to access the platform’s digital healthcare capabilities to provide telehealth services and enable healthcare travellers to consult their doctors.
MHTC acting CEO Nik Yazmin Nik Azman said the group’s member hospitals have been working towards fulfilling their patients’ needs in providing safe healthcare services by providing 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,” Nik Yasmin said in a statement yesterday.
The collaboration will further enable MHTC to embark in digital healthcare as a critical component in delivering superior healthcare services to foreign patients, she added.
The group also welcomes other digital providers in the industry to explore collaboration areas to improve patient experience and elevate Malaysia’s standing as the World’s Healthcare Marvel.
Nik Yasmin said the Covid-19 pandemic has led to an encouraging growth in telehealth services such as virtual consultations and is expected to grow exponentially in the Asia-Pacific region over the next five years.
“Amid the global health crisis, telehealth serves to maintain continuity in patient care while managing additional costs associated with healthcare travel,” she said.
DoctorOnCall CEO Maran Virumandi said the platform has grown from virtual consultations to offering e-pharmacy, medication delivery, doctor and specialist bookings, and health content to over two million patients who visit the platform monthly.
“It is our honour to partner a brand like MHTC and extend the 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,” he said.
In addition to its plans to enhance digital support for foreign patients, MHTC is also looking to strengthen its position as the fertility and cardiology hub of Asia.
The group also aims to promote the country’s unique proposition as a wellness destination, welcoming travellers to seek health and wellness treatments once border restrictions ease.