Foreign medical tourists are to be welcomed back to Malaysia, but only if following their strict Standard Operating Procedures, one of which is registering with the Malaysia Healthcare Travel Council. Subject to country by country agreement, it is possible that inbound medical travellers from South Korea, Singapore, New Zealand, Japan, Brunei and Australia will be allowed to visit first. Plans are still only at an early stage, so turning theory into practice may take some months.
Malaysia is cautiously opening to medical tourists.
Foreign medical tourists must go through the Health Ministry and register with the Malaysia Healthcare Travel Council (MHTC). They are also allowed to enter without registering with the Immigration Department, and do not have to go into quarantine but they must go direct to the hospital. They must also take a screening test at home or on arrival.
Medical tourists are allowed to bring one guardian who must undergo the screening test at home or on arrival, and both must download the MySejahtera app.
The MHTC has stated it welcomes the Government’s decision to reopen the country’s international borders to medical tourists.
Malaysia will only allow in medical tourists from a list of green zone countries and they can enter Malaysia without needing prior approval from the Immigration Department.
The list of green zone countries will be fluid, depending on global circumstances. The provisional list is subject to Malaysia’s standard operating procedures being agreed with each country concerning immigration procedures, quarantine, numbers and whatever else needs to be done.
This may not be simple since, for example, Australia outbound travel is closed until at least September. Country negotiations are only at early stages so turning theory into practice may take some months.
The first provisional list, subject to country agreement, of six green zone counties cover:
Australia
Brunei
Japan
New Zealand
Singapore
South Korea
Malaysians who need to travel overseas for emergency, medical or specific purposes need not seek approval from immigration authorities.
New standard operating procedures for the resumption of businesses in tourism sub-sectors, await government approval and until then those sectors that include spa, wellness centres, health and beauty centres, reflexology and massage premises must stay closed.
Sherene Azli, CEO of MHTC, will be outlining how Malaysia has combatted COVID-19, how the country is responding to the medical travel hiatus and their roadmap to recovery at the IMTJ free to attend webinar on 8 July.
Register to attend here
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