Direct Chattogram-KL flight sought for medical travel

Malaysia's healthcare sector has stressed the need for direct air connectivity between Chattogram and Kuala Lumpur to facilitate medical travel for Bangladeshi patients, alongside faster visa processing and stronger cooperation between healthcare professionals in the two countries.

The issues were discussed at the first-ever Malaysia Healthcare Week Bangladesh 2026 in Chattogram on Monday, organised by the Malaysia Healthcare Travel Council (MHTC).

The event, styled ‘Discover Malaysia Healthcare - Media Connect & Networking Lunch’, was held at The Galleria Chattogram and attended by Malaysian Consul General Akhtar Parvez, MHTC Head of Developing Markets Husami Azer and representatives of four Malaysian healthcare providers.

MHTC officials said a significant share of Bangladeshi patients travelling to Malaysia comes from Chattogram and neighbouring areas, prompting the council to expand its engagement beyond Dhaka.

Malaysian Consul General Akhtar Parvez said a direct Chattogram-Kuala Lumpur service would reduce travel time and make the journey easier for patients seeking treatment in Malaysia.

‘If a direct flight is launched from Chattogram, it will be a major convenience for patients. There is a possibility of launching such a flight by December,’ he said.

He said Bangladeshi patients still need valid visas to travel to Malaysia for treatment. Although the consulate does not issue visas directly, it coordinates with the Malaysian High Commission to help expedite applications from patients.

‘If we receive a patient's request or reference number, we will work with the Malaysian High Commission to help them obtain a visa,’ he said.

Husami Azer said MHTC wants the relationship between the healthcare sectors of the two countries to extend beyond Bangladeshi patients travelling to Malaysia.

The council is working on training opportunities for doctors and nurses, clinical knowledge-sharing, professional visits and institutional partnerships between healthcare providers in the two countries, he said.

‘We do not just want to bring patients to Malaysia for treatment; we also want to share knowledge and experience with the medical community in Bangladesh,’ he said.

Azer said recent discussions with Bangladesh's Ministry of Health had focused on short-term training and knowledge exchange for doctors and nurses.

He added that arrangements were also being explored for Malaysian doctors to travel to Bangladesh to treat cases that cannot be managed locally.

MHTC said it provides a range of services aimed at making medical travel to Malaysia easier for international patients.

‘We want the patient's journey to be seamless from door to door,’ Azer said.

The support includes letters for medical visa applications, meet-and-greet services at Kuala Lumpur International Airport Terminals 1 and 2 and Penang International Airport, airport transfers, accommodation and hospital-related assistance.

Bangladeshi patients also receive support through MHTC's local partners in Bangladesh, he said.

Azer said MHTC's activities in Bangladesh had traditionally been centred on Dhaka, despite patients from other parts of the country also travelling to Malaysia for treatment.

‘From Chattogram, we want to build connections not only with the media but also with doctors and other healthcare stakeholders. There is scope to strengthen these relationships further in the future,’ he said.

Four Malaysian healthcare providers showcased their specialised services and facilities at the event: Alpha International Fertility Centre, IHH Healthcare Malaysia, KL Fertility & Gynaecology Centre and Sunway Medical Centre, Sunway City Kuala Lumpur.

Karen Ang, regional commercial director of Alpha IVF, said the centre specialises in complex infertility and reproductive treatments. She claimed its IVF treatment has an 87.5% success rate.

A representative of IHH Healthcare Malaysia said the group operates 18 hospitals across the country, providing specialised care for complex conditions including cancer, urology and orthopaedics.

The representative said Bangladeshi patients, particularly those with complex conditions, are increasingly travelling to Malaysia for second opinions. IHH's centres of excellence provide diagnostic services and multiple stages of treatment under one system, the representative added.

A representative of Sunway Medical Centre said the hospital treated around 150,000 international patients from 150 countries last year, with Bangladesh among its top 10 sources of international patients.

The hospital has an international patient centre dedicated to Bangladeshi patients, helping with appointments, transportation, visa extensions and airport transfers, the representative said.

Its specialised services include robotic surgery, paediatrics, cardiology, oncology, neurology and gastroenterology.

MHTC officials said the Chattogram event had created new opportunities for cooperation between the healthcare sectors of Bangladesh and Malaysia, with future initiatives expected to cover patient services as well as professional training, clinical knowledge exchange and institutional partnerships.