Malaysia and Bangladesh are advancing their healthcare collaboration, following a meeting between the Malaysian Healthcare Travel Council (MHTC) and Bangladesh’s Health Ministry. The meeting, held in Dhaka, aimed to further develop medical tourism and patient access between the two nations.
The discussions were part of MHTC’s visit to Bangladesh from 17 to 20 August, building on the momentum from the Bangladeshi Prime Minister’s visit to Malaysia in June. The leaders of both countries had expressed optimism about expanding bilateral cooperation in healthcare, particularly in light of Malaysia Year of Medical Tourism 2026 (MYMT2026).
The collaboration is driven by increasing demand, with healthcare travel revenue from Bangladeshi patients to Malaysia rising from RM2.2m in Q1 2025 to RM2.7m in Q1 2026, marking a 22.7% increase. This growth underscores Bangladesh’s potential as a significant market for Malaysian healthcare services.
Dato’ Suriaghandi Suppiah, CEO of MHTC, stated, “Malaysia and Bangladesh have built more than five decades of partnership, and in June our leaders agreed to extend that partnership into healthcare. Our responsibility now is to translate that commitment into practical cooperation, not only in healthcare travel, but in the exchange of skills, standards and knowledge that strengthens both our systems.”
Bangladesh’s Health Minister highlighted the importance of making Malaysian healthcare more accessible and affordable to the Bangladeshi population, emphasising competitive pricing and broader access. This cooperation is expected to strengthen the longstanding relations between the two countries and enhance healthcare opportunities for Bangladeshi patients.
