Malaysia Healthcare Travel Council (MHTC) marked a major milestone in its medical tourism journey recently (Dec 2025) with the announcement of the Winner of the Flagship Medical Tourism Hospital (FMTH) Programme, an initiative initiated and led by the Malaysia Healthcare Travel Council (MHTC) to elevate Malaysia’s position as the preferred medical tourism destination in the world.
The announcement was made during the FMTH 2025 Award Ceremony, held at M Resort & Hotel Kuala Lumpur. The event was officiated by YB Datuk Seri Dr. Dzulkefly bin Ahmad, Health Minister of Malaysia, who served as the Guest of Honour and presented the awards to the winners, as well as Yang Berusaha En. Suriaghandi Suppiah, CEO of Malaysia Healthcare Travel Council (MHTC) and YBhg. Dato’ Sri Siti Nurhaliza, Malaysia Year of Medical Tourism (MYMT) 2026 Brand Ambassador.
In his Opening Speech, the Health Minister emphasised the importance of MHTC’s role in medical tourism as a strategic driver of national competitiveness. “The medical tourism sector remains a vital pillar of Malaysia’s long-term economic resilience and a key contributor to our nation’s global reputation for quality and care. Through the FMTH initiative, we are strengthening the country’s position as a preferred destination for world-class medical treatment, wellness, and recovery. This sector not only attracts quality investments and creates high-value job opportunities but also supports the growth of related industries such as pharmaceuticals, hospitality, and technology.”
The event was also attended by the CEO of Malaysia Healthcare Travel Council (MHTC), Yang Berusaha En. Suriaghandi Suppiah. In his address, he reflected on the nation’s momentum in advancing medical tourism. “The Flagship Medical Tourism Hospital initiative represents a bold step by MHTC towards positioning Malaysia as a trusted and competitive destination for world-class healthcare. Today, we recognise one winner and four hospitals receiving special accolades for excellence in specific domains. This is not merely about recognising achievement; this initiative drives a national aspiration, one that aligns with our long-term vision for a stronger, more resilient, and more inclusive economy.”
The prestigious title of Flagship Medical Tourism Hospital 2025 was awarded to Island Hospital, Penang, in recognition of its exemplary performance in medical and service excellence, and international branding. The other three Flagship Finalists were Institut Jantung Negara (IJN), Mahkota Medical Centre, Melaka, and Subang Jaya Medical Centre. In addition, five distinguished accolades were conferred to recognise the finalists for setting new national benchmarks in their respective domains:
I. Excellence in Healthcare Tourism Revenue Growth:
Awarded to Island Hospital, Penang
II. Medical Excellence and Medical Technology Distinction:
Awarded to Institut Jantung Negara (IJN)
III. Strategic Industry Partnership Leader:
Awarded to Mahkota Medical Centre, Melaka
IV. Digital Innovation in Patient Service Delivery:
Awarded to Island Hospital, Penang
V. Brand Distinction Excellence:
Awarded to Subang Jaya Medical Centre
The FMTH Programme lays the foundation for Malaysia’s preparations for the Malaysia Year of Medical Tourism 2026 (MYMT 2026). CEO of MHTC, Suriaghandi Suppiah mentioned “With a strong global brand, sustained programme enablers, and internationally benchmarked hospitals, we are strategically positioned to welcome greater numbers of healthcare travellers seeking trusted, high-quality, patient-centred care. Central to this effort is the introduction of holistic and integrative healthcare packages that expand beyond treatment-based travel to include wellness, preventive care, and Traditional & Complementary Medicine, offering international patients fully curated medical-and-wellness journeys”.
He further added “Complementing this is a drive to deliver a seamless end-to-end patient experience, integrating pre-arrival coordination, concierge support, recovery-friendly hospitality, and curated tourism offerings to ensure a smooth and reassuring travel-to-treatment pathway.”
