New partnership encourages inbound medical tourism from Brunei

2,000 Bruneians received medical treatment in Malaysia in 2017, particularly for cancer, cardiology and fertility services. A new partnership between MHTC and Brunei group Darussalam Holdings will make it easier for patients when they travel to Malaysia for medical treatment.

According to the Malaysia Healthcare Travel Council (MHTC), there have been an increasing number of private patients from Brunei seeking medical treatment in Malaysia, particularly cancer treatment, cardiology and fertility treatment.

In 2017, 2,000 Brunei patients spent RM5 million on medical treatment in Malaysia, compared to 1,356 in 2016 and 701 in 2011.

Over the years, the Malaysia healthcare sector has seen encouraging numbers from Brunei. The cultural and religious similarities with the Sultanate make Malaysia a prime destination to seek healthcare services. Muslim healthcare travellers feel at home in Malaysia as it is Muslim-friendly.

A new partnership between MHTC and Brunei group Darussalam Holdings (DHSB) will make it easier for patients and their families when they travel to Malaysia to seek medical treatment, as DHSB and MHTC will handle the travelling arrangements for the patients and their families, including their transport and accommodation. MHTC will offer medical services from selected healthcare providers in Malaysia.  DHSB will provide flight, accommodation, transport and related facilities to MHTC customers from Brunei.

DHSB is a long-standing Brunei travel agent and tour operator, a local agent for Malaysian Airlines, and a specialist in Islamic travel.

Brunei has one of the best publicly run health care systems in the world, however a lack of medical facilities means that for specialist treatment people must go overseas. View the IMTJ medical tourism analysis on Brunei and Malaysia.