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The Malaysia Healthcare Travel Council (MHTC) regional office in Hong Kong opened recently, bringing to three the number of Asian offices of the Malaysian Government-funded body.
The Chief Executive Officer of the MHTC, Dr Mary Wong, said that Hong Kong was chosen as a regional office location not just because of its close proximity and ties to the Mainland but also because of its central location in the region and its status as a financial centre.
"We can do a lot from Hong Kong, like in terms of networking with Mainland hospitals for referral of patients and promoting our presence to both industry and patient groups," Dr Wong said.
The number of visitors travelling from China (including Hong Kong) to Malaysia for medical treatment has doubled from 7 500 in 2010 to over 15 000 in 2012. Dr Wong sees the MHTC Hong Kong office as key to lifting this number to over 50 000 in three to five years.
She said that Malaysia is particularly favoured for treatments related to cardiology, oncology, orthopaedics, in vitro fertilisation, electron beam tomography and other treatments, and added that 11 new hospitals are being built in the country, making it a reliable choice for overseas patients seeking quality healthcare.
The MHTC office is located within the Malaysia Building in Wan Chai, providing a convenient resource and one-stop service centre for the industry and patients who want to know more about medical travel to the country.
The Director-General of Investment Promotion, Mr Simon Galpin, congratulated the MHTC on its opening in Hong Kong. He said, "Hong Kong and Malaysia are both leading medical centres in the region. Given the close relationship of the medical professions in Hong Kong and the Mainland, by setting up here the MHTC is in a good position to extend its reach into China from our city."
About the MHTC
The MHTC was established under the Ministry of Health Malaysia in 2009 upon the approval of the Malaysian Cabinet. It is the primary agency to develop and promote the healthcare travel industry and to position Malaysia as the healthcare destination of choice in the region. The MHTC also has a presence in Jakarta, Indonesia, and Dhaka, Bangladesh. For more information, please click www.mhtc.org.my .
About Invest Hong Kong
Invest Hong Kong is the department of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government established in July 2000 to take responsibility for Foreign Direct Investment and support overseas and Mainland businesses to set up or expand in Hong Kong. It provides free advice and customised services to help businesses succeed in Hong Kong's vibrant economy. As at June 2013, Invest Hong Kong has completed over 2 900 investment projects creating over 33 000 new jobs in the first year of operation or expansion and HK$76 billion of investment. For more information, please visit www.investhk.gov.hk.
For event photos, please visit: www.flickr.com/photos/investhk/sets/72157635277896435/.
Ends/Thursday, August 29, 2013
Issued at HKT 18:36
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