CHATTOGRAM, Bangladesh — The Malaysia Healthcare Travel Council (MHTC) is strengthening its presence in Bangladesh as demand for healthcare travel to Malaysia continues to grow, with its Malaysia Healthcare Week in Bangladesh expanding beyond Dhaka to Chattogram for the first time.
Held from Sept 16 to 21, the programme brought together Malaysian hospitals and healthcare stakeholders across the two cities to strengthen professional networks, referral pathways and corporate relationships connecting Bangladeshi patients with healthcare providers in Malaysia.
Malaysia Healthcare’s engagement in Bangladesh has gained momentum in recent years, with nearly 70,000 Bangladeshi healthcare travellers visiting Malaysia in 2025 and generating about RM50 million in healthcare travel revenue, a 24 per cent increase from the previous year.
The six-day programme was structured across Dhaka and Chattogram, with Dhaka serving as the main platform for corporate and consumer engagement, while Chattogram extended Malaysia Healthcare’s reach to healthcare professionals, media and corporate stakeholders in a new market.
The Dhaka programme began with a corporate networking dinner on Sept 16, held in conjunction with Malaysia Day and in collaboration with the High Commission of Malaysia in Bangladesh.
The event connected participating Malaysian hospitals with corporate stakeholders, healthcare referral agencies and industry representatives.
From Sept 17 to 19, the hospitals continued their engagement with the public and industry stakeholders at the 13th Asian Tourism Fair at the International Convention City Bashundhara (ICCB) in Dhaka, showcasing their medical specialties and services.
The programme then moved to Chattogram on Sept 20, marking Malaysia Healthcare’s first activation in the city.
The two-day engagement began with a media session and networking dinner, followed by a luncheon with doctors and healthcare professionals and a corporate networking dinner with the PHP Family on Sept 21.
MHTC chief executive officer Datuk Suriaghandi Suppiah said the growing number of healthcare travellers from Bangladesh showed that patients were increasingly looking beyond their home country for specialised treatment.
“Our role is to build the connections that make that journey more informed and coordinated, from the referring doctor and healthcare professional to the hospital and corporate network.
“By engaging both Dhaka and Chattogram, we strengthened our understanding of the market while making Malaysia Healthcare more accessible to patients who are considering treatment in Malaysia,” he said.
Five Malaysian hospitals participated in the programme. Alpha IVF, IHH Healthcare, KL Fertility and Sunway Medical Centre took part in both cities, while KPJ Ampang Puteri Specialist participated in the Dhaka programme.
Malaysia Healthcare Week in Bangladesh is part of Malaysia Year of Medical Tourism 2026 (MYMT 2026), themed “Healing Meets Hospitality”, which brings together Malaysia’s healthcare expertise and patient experience to strengthen the country’s position as a preferred healthcare destination.
The Bangladesh programme reflected the initiative’s approach by combining clinical engagement with the professional relationships and support networks that shape the healthcare traveller’s journey. —Bernama
