Tag: news

MALAYSIA WELCOMES FIRST MEDICAL TOURISM FAMILIARISATION TRIP FOR HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS FROM UZBEKISTAN AND KAZAKHSTAN

by jezzabellemente, posted in Uncategorized

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 6 (Bernama) — As demand for Malaysia’s healthcare services continues to grow across Central Asia, Malaysia is welcoming senior healthcare professionals from Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan for its first Medical Tourism Familiarisation Trip organised by Malaysia Healthcare Travel Council (MHTC) and Tourism Malaysia (TM), designed to deepen professional collaboration and expand referral opportunities between the regions. the initiative reflects the growing demand for Malaysian healthcare services across the region and aims to foster knowledge exchange and long-term partnerships between medical institutions in Malaysia and Central Asia.

From 3 to 10 August 2026, the programme brings together 16 distinguished healthcare professionals, including practicing physicians, professors and senior medical specialists from Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan, for an immersive study visit throughout the programme. Participants will gain first-hand insight into Malaysia’s internationally recognised healthcare ecosystem and integrated approach to healthcare travel.

During the week-long programme, the delegation will visit four of Malaysia’s leading private healthcare institutions including Gleneagles Hospital Kuala Lumpur, Pantai Hospital Kuala Lumpur, Prince Court Medical Centre, and Sunway Medical Centre. Participants will meet with hospital management teams, doctors and specialists to discuss clinical excellence, healthcare quality standards, international patient management and the practical aspects of delivering seamless care to international patients.

The initiative comes at a time of growing interest in Malaysia’s healthcare sector across Central Asia. In 2025, healthcare travel revenue from Kazakhstan increased by 29.4%, rising from approximately USD 400,000 to USD 520,000, while Uzbekistan recorded a 30.8% increase, growing from around USD 305,000 to USD 400,000. The consistent growth in both markets highlights the region’s rising importance as a source of international patients and reflects increasing confidence in Malaysia’s high-quality, internationally accredited healthcare services. Malaysia currently attracts around 1.84 million international patients each year, resulting in over USD 770 million in healthcare travel revenue annually. The country’s healthcare system includes over 90 partner hospitals and providers, delivering internationally recognized expertise in various fields such as cardiology, oncology, orthopaedics, fertility treatments, and dentistry. 

Dato’ Suriaghandi said the familiarisation programme reflects MHTC’s commitment to building stronger professional relationships with healthcare communities in emerging markets while creating greater awareness of Malaysia’s healthcare capabilities among key medical decision-makers. He noted that healthcare professionals play an important role in influencing patients’ healthcare choices, making long-term engagement essential in strengthening Malaysia’s position as a preferred medical tourism destination.

“Trust is at the heart of every healthcare journey. By welcoming healthcare professionals to experience Malaysia’s healthcare ecosystem first-hand, we hope to foster meaningful relationships built on confidence, knowledge and shared commitment to patient care. That is the essence of Healing Meets Hospitality where clinical excellence is complemented by genuine compassion, creating a healthcare experience that patients can trust.” Dato’ Suriaghandi Suppiah, CEO of MHTC.

Beyond the professional visits, the delegation will also experience Malaysia’s rich cultural heritage through visits to Kuala Lumpur, the UNESCO World Heritage city of Melaka and Putrajaya. By combining world-class healthcare with renowned hospitality, modern infrastructure and diverse tourism experiences, Malaysia offers international patients a comprehensive healthcare travel journey that extends well beyond medical treatment.

Photo can be found in this link:
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/15D6oZDyMxbpR4tLuADIe64hRM-LTX3V2?usp=drive_link

SOURCE: Malaysia Healthcare Travel Council (MHTC)

FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:
Name: Muhammad Rasydan Ma’at
Head of Unit
PR and Media
Communications
Tel: +603 8776 6168
Email: rasydan.m@mhtc.org.my
 
Name: Mohamad Shahizam Fauzi                                                       
Head, Communications
Tel: +603 8776 6168                                                                                     
Email: shahizam.f@mhtc.org.my 

–BERNAMA

HIT CO-HOSTS CLIMATE LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE, JOINTLY LAUNCHES INITIATIVE

by jezzabellemente, posted in Uncategorized

KUALA LUMPUR, July 27 (Bernama) — The second International Conference on Climate Leadership, held in Harbin from July 18 to 20, gathered more than 300 experts and scholars from 111 universities and research institutions across 23 countries and regions.

According to a statement, the three-day conference was co-hosted by the Business School, Harbin Institute of Technology (HIT), the Bartlett School of Sustainable Construction, UCL, and the Chinese Economic Association UK/Europe.

With representatives from international organisations such as the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), businesses, and leading academic journals, participants explored cutting-edge developments and global practices in climate leadership, contributing Chinese wisdom and solutions to global climate governance.

The Climate Leadership Initiative, jointly proposed by HIT and UNDP, was officially launched at the conference, highlighting the role of science, technology, and business disciplines in connecting climate technology innovation, business practices, and governance decision-making.

It calls for stronger collaboration among business schools, science and engineering faculties, research institutions, and enterprises, marking HIT’s significant step in leveraging its unique disciplinary strengths to help Chinese universities shift from participants to leaders in global climate governance.

In addition, the conference also featured a world-class academic lineup, with keynote speakers including fellows of the Royal Society of Canada, the Academy of the Social Sciences in Australia, the European Academy of Sciences, and the Royal Society of Edinburgh.

Distinguished experts also included a former deputy director of the Regional Cooperation Division at the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), an executive council member of the China Energy Research Society, and an assistant resident representative of UNDP in China.

Editors-in-chief from leading journals also gathered at the Journal Editors Session to discuss emerging trends, while five international organisations, namely UNDP, UNEP, WWF, WRI and CBI, participated extensively. UNDP also organised its first dedicated joint session, highlighting the conference’s international influence.

As a leading university integrating science, technology, and business education, HIT has built an international platform for collaboration. Through co-hosting the conference and launching the Climate Leadership Initiative, HIT demonstrated that Chinese universities can serve not only as participants, but also as agenda setters and drivers in global climate governance.

— BERNAMA

KFSHRC ACHIEVES WORLD’S FIRST SINGLE-PORT ROBOTIC LIVER TRANSPLANT

by jezzabellemente, posted in Uncategorized

KUALA LUMPUR, July 22 (Bernama) — King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre (KFSHRC) has performed the world’s first liver transplant using a single-port robotic system in a six-year-old boy suffering from recurrent acute liver failure.

The transplant was made possible after the child’s father donated the left lobe of his liver. The procedure was completed successfully, with the child showing good early recovery, the liver graft functioning well and no complications observed.

According to KFSHRC in a statement, the patient had Wolcott-Rallison syndrome, a rare inherited disorder that causes early-onset diabetes and recurrent episodes of acute liver failure, placing him at repeated, life-threatening risk.

The transplant addressed the disease’s most serious complication, offering the boy a chance at a more stable life while easing the medical and emotional burden on his family. He will continue to receive follow-up care for his underlying genetic condition and diabetes.

A single-port robotic system allows surgeons to introduce precision surgical instruments and a high-definition 3D camera through one small incision, unlike conventional multi-port robotic surgery, which requires several access points.

Working through this single port, surgeons carried out the most delicate stages of the transplant inside the child’s body, where the confined surgical field required extremely precise handling of blood vessels and bile ducts. The approach helped reduce surgical impact, ease pain, and shorten recovery time and hospital stay.

This milestone builds on a pioneering path KFSHRC began in 2023 with the world’s first fully robotic liver transplant, which has since grown into an integrated programme with 165 cases performed to date, supported by experience from more than 1,700 robotic living-donor liver resections.

This accumulated expertise reflects the hospital’s ability to turn landmark achievements into advanced clinical programmes that change the course of entire families’ lives, expanding the use of robotics in highly complex transplant surgery and strengthening Saudi Arabia’s position in medical innovation and healthcare excellence.

Ranked first in the Middle East and Africa and 12th globally among the world’s top 250 academic medical centres for 2026, KFSHRC was also recognised as the most valuable healthcare brand in Saudi Arabia and the Middle East for 2026 by Brand Finance. It was also listed by Newsweek among the World’s Best Hospitals, World’s Best Smart Hospitals and World’s Best Specialised Hospitals for 2026.

— BERNAMA

Accertify’s Q2 Global Air Travel Fraud Report Finds Fraud Pressure Intensifying Across Middle East and Africa

by jezzabellemente, posted in Uncategorized

Analysis of nearly 133 million airline booking transactions finds bookings departing from Cairo carried the world’s highest fraud rate this quarter, while departure cities across the United States and Australia posted among the lowest fraud rates

ITASCA, Ill., July 16 (Bernama-BUSINESS WIRE) — Accertify, a leading fraud decisioning provider whose Predictive Yes Platform helps merchants say yes to more good customers, more revenue, and more growth, today announced the release of its Global Air Travel Fraud Report: Q2 2026, a quarterly analysis examining how fraud pressure varies across global airline markets based on departure city at time of booking.

Based on analysis of 132.9 million airline booking transactions processed between April and June 2026, the report evaluates prevented fraud rates across 537 departure cities that each processed at least 10,000 transactions during the quarter, providing airlines with a data-driven view of where Accertify’s Predictive Yes platform intervened most frequently at booking.

The Q2 findings reveal that fraud pressure continues to vary significantly by market, with the most notable shift occurring across the Middle East and Africa. The region’s average prevented fraud rate more than doubled quarter over quarter, from 0.95% to 2.03% — the highest of any region analyzed, against a global average of 0.29% — while bookings departing from Cairo, Accra, Tunis, and Casablanca posted the four highest fraud rates worldwide (Source: Accertify client data, Q2 2026). Meanwhile, departure cities across the United States and Australia continued to register some of the world’s lowest booking-stage fraud rates, reflecting the more mature fraud-prevention practices commonly found in those markets.

Key findings from the Accertify Q2 2026 Global Air Travel Fraud Report include:

  • Middle East and Africa recorded the highest average fraud rate of any region. The region’s average prevented fraud rate reached 2.03%, up from 0.95% in Q1 and well above the global average of 0.29%, with bookings departing from Cairo, Accra, Tunis, and Casablanca recording the four highest fraud rates worldwide.
  • Cairo reached the highest fraud rate in the world this quarter. The fraud rate on bookings departing from Cairo rose from 1.43% in Q1 to 6.57% in Q2 — moving it from 15th to the highest globally in a single quarter.
  • The United States and Australia reflected some of the world’s lowest fraud rates. Both remained well below the global average of 0.29%, with bookings departing from U.S. cities averaging 0.07% and bookings departing from Australia and Pacific cities averaging 0.08%.
  • East Asia posted the largest proportional improvement of any region. Its average prevented fraud rate nearly halved year over year, falling 43% from 0.20% to 0.11% — a steeper percentage decline than any other region, though Latin America + the Caribbean’s rate fell by more in absolute terms (0.91% to 0.69%).
  • Quarter-over-quarter rankings provide new insight into changing fraud patterns. For the first time, the report tracks how individual departure cities move within the global rankings from one quarter to the next, providing airlines with additional context into where fraud pressure is accelerating or easing over time.

The report underscores that fraud pressure is highly localized, often varying significantly between departure cities within the same region. By examining prevented fraud at the point of booking, airlines can better benchmark their own performance, identify emerging areas of elevated risk, and adapt fraud prevention strategies as booking patterns evolve.

Note on methodology: Fraud rate figures reflect prevented fraud – bookings denied for a fraud reason before travel occurred – denoted by departure city, the point of booking. Regional and global averages are calculated as the mean of each qualifying departure city’s individual fraud rate.

The Global Air Travel Fraud Report: Q2 2026 is hosted on Accertify’s website at https://www.accertify.com/q2-2026-global-air-travel-fraud-report/.

About Accertify

Accertify enables commerce by doing one thing extraordinarily well: pinpointing fraud. The company’s Predictive Yes Platform helps businesses say yes to more – more good customers, more revenue, and more growth – without getting burned. It’s a precise, confident, data-backed yes, made possible by joining signals across the entire customer lifecycle through unmatched data volume, layered AI-powered models, and a consortium approach that protects clients from bad actors spotted anywhere in the network while unlocking business with good actors verified anywhere in the network. With more than 10 billion transactions and over $1 trillion in commerce processed in 2025 alone, Accertify delivers the intelligence and precision that fraud and payments teams need to say yes confidently and enable growth. That’s the More Yes difference. Learn more at accertify.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260715427770/en/

Contact

Media Contact
Tylor Tourville
T2 PR
tylor@t2pr.agency

Source : Accertify

Healthcare Partners Protocol & Solutions Committee (HPPSC) Launches and Spearheading Key Initiatives to Enhance Communication, Operational Efficiency and Customer Experience in Malaysia’s Healthcare Ecosystem

by jezzabellemente, posted in Uncategorized
Mark O’Dell, LIAM CEO

Joint Press Statement by MMA, APHM, LIAM, MTA, AND PIAM 

KUALA LUMPUR, June 19 (Bernama) — The Healthcare Partners Protocol & Solutions Committee (HPPSC) implemented two initiatives* and continues to drive a series of strategic initiatives aimed at enhancing a seamless communication and improving operational efficiency among doctors, hospitals, insurers and takaful operators (ITOs), enhancing the overall customer experience across the healthcare ecosystem.

Key Initiatives by HPPSC 

1. Improving Communication Between Medical Practitioners and ITOs
To facilitate more efficient and timely medical and health insurance and takaful (MHIT) claims for patients, the HPPSC has recommended for the establishment of a dedicated “doctor-to-doctor” hotline by ITOs. In response to this recommendation, the hotline was implemented and has been operational since 30 April 2026 to support and address claims enquiries, as well as enable direct discussions between medical practitioners and the medical advisory team at ITOs. Such discussions are often necessary to understand case-specific matters such as treatment pathways and the use of new technologies or drugs.
*https://www.liam.org.my/news/press_details.aspx?ps=11166&ct=3,
Healthcare Budget Planner 

This initiative is expected to strengthen communication, improve mutual understanding and support better coordination between medical practitioners and ITOs. This is intended to result in faster resolution of claims queries that will lead to better patient care and treatment decisions.

2. Enhancing Transparency in Panelling and Review Processes for Cashless Facility
The HPPSC has established a transparent and streamlined governance framework to support the panelling review and appeal processes relating to healthcare providers participating in cashless facility arrangements under MHIT products. The framework establishes a structured panelling review and appeal processes with clear guiding principles to promote fair and impartial assessment, continuous engagement, consistent decision-making and ongoing oversight. This initiative aims to strengthen confidence while improving governance and stakeholder engagement to promote prudent healthcare spending, strengthen governance, and enhance the overall integrity and sustainability of the MHIT ecosystem.  

3. Improving MHIT Claims Management Operational Efficiency
As part of ongoing efforts to improve operational efficiency and consistency in claims management, the HPPSC is undertaking several initiatives relating to clinical protocols and policy coverage.

These initiatives include: 

(a) Claims Management Processes
Developing processes to guide ITOs in managing clinical queries involving treatments recommended by medical practitioners that may not be directly aligned with or covered under existing Clinical Practice Guidelines (CPGs) issued by MOH through Malaysian Health Technology Assessment Section (MaHTAS). 

(b) Best Practices for Emerging Medical Technologies and Treatments
Developing best practices recommendations to support ITOs in assessing and determining MHIT coverage for new procedures, diagnostics, treatments and medicines, including emerging medical technologies such as robotic surgery, genetic testing and new cancer therapies. 

(c) Cancer Drug List Alignment and Awareness
Endorsing a cancer drug list developed in alignment with the MOH’s prescribed formulary prior to publication by MOH (NPRA). This initiative is intended to ensure healthcare providers remain updated on the MOH’s current prescribed cancer drug formulary.

The above initiatives will also include:
• Collaboration with the MOH, hospitals, treating specialists and relevant medical associations to facilitate alignment and resolution; and
• The implementation of mechanisms to disseminate outcomes, protocols and solutions arising from such engagements to all ITOs to promote greater consistency in application. 

4. Streamlining the Guarantee Letter (GL) Issuance Process
HPPSC will work towards simplifying and improving the Guarantee Letter (GL) issuance process to support timely issuance and more effective communication between ITOs, TPAs, medical practitioners and hospitals. 

This initiative aims to reduce administrative inefficiencies, improve coordination among stakeholders and enhance patients’ overall experience during hospital admissions and treatment. 

The initiatives undertaken by HPPSC reflect the Committee’s ongoing commitment to fostering greater collaboration, transparency and operational efficiency across the healthcare ecosystem. 

Commenting on the progress and significance of these initiatives, the Co-Chairs of HPPSC shared the following:

Chief Executive Officer of LIAM, Mark O’Dell said “HPPSC reflects what can be achieved when all stakeholders across the healthcare ecosystem come together with a shared purpose. These initiatives are designed to strengthen communication, improve operational efficiency and enhance transparency, ultimately benefiting patients and policyholders. As healthcare needs continue to evolve, it is important that insurers, takaful operators, healthcare providers and regulators work collaboratively to develop practical and sustainable solutions that support timely access to care while ensuring the long-term affordability and sustainability of medical and health insurance and takaful coverage for Malaysians.”

Dr Gunalan Palari @ Arumugam Palari of Malaysia Medical Association added “Effective patient care depends on strong collaboration and mutual understanding among all parties involved in the healthcare journey. Through HPPSC, we have established a constructive platform that enables healthcare providers and healthcare financiers to address operational challenges, improve communication and develop solutions that support better clinical and patient outcomes. The implementation of initiatives such as the “doctor-to-doctor” hotline demonstrates our collective commitment to ensuring patients receive timely, appropriate and coordinated care.”

Commitment to Continued Collaboration
The Malaysian Medical Association (MMA), Association of Private Hospitals of Malaysia (APHM), Life Insurance Association (LIAM), Malaysian Takaful Association (MTA), and General Insurance Association of Malaysia (PIAM) reaffirm their commitment to constructive collaboration and continuous engagement in strengthening the sustainability, transparency and efficiency of Malaysia’s healthcare financing ecosystem. 

The HPPSC will continue to serve as a platform for practical problem-solving, constructive engagement and industry collaboration in support of better healthcare access and patient outcomes for all Malaysians. 

The Committee brings together representatives from healthcare providers and healthcare financing stakeholders, including MMA, APHM, insurers and takaful operators (ITOs), as well as third-party administrators (TPAs), with observers from the Ministry of Health (MOH) and Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM). It is co-chaired by MMA and LIAM, with the support of PIAM and MTA, reflecting a shared commitment to collaborative solutions.

Issued jointly by:
• Malaysian Medical Association (MMA)
• Association of Private Hospitals Malaysia (APHM)
• Life Insurance Association of Malaysia (LIAM)
• Malaysian Takaful Association (MTA)
• Persatuan Insurans Am Malaysia (PIAM) 

SOURCE: Life Insurance Association of Malaysia (LIAM)

FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:
MMA:
Name: Mr Darren Atkinson
Press Officer
Malaysian Medical Association
Level 4, MMA House
124 Jalan Pahang
53000 Kuala Lumpur
Tel: 03 4041 1375 / +60 12-295 5042
Fax: 03 4041 8187
Email: secretary@mma.org.my
Website: mma.org.my

APHM:
Name: Muhammad Badri Hussin
CEO
Associations of Private Hospitals of Malaysia
A-17-01 Menara UOA Bangsar
5, Jalan Bangsar Utama 1
59000 Kuala Lumpur
Tel : 603 22841701
Email : badri@aphm.org.my / aphm@aphm.org.my
Website : https://aphm.org.my

LIAM:
Puan Norizan Hassan
Head of Corporate Communications
Life Insurance Association of Malaysia
Level 6, AICB Building
No. 10, Jalan Dato’ Onn
50480 Kuala Lumpur
Tel: 603-2691 6168 / 6628 / 8068
Email: liaminfo@liam.org.my
Website: http://www.liam.org.my
Facebook: LIAM – Life Insurance Association of Malaysia
Instagram: @liamalaysia 

MTA:
Name: Puan Siti Nor Kamariah Ishak
Head, Corporate Communications
18th Floor, Main Block
Menara Takaful Malaysia
Jalan Sultan Sulaiman
50000 Kuala Lumpur
Tel: 018-355 1427
Fax: +603-2031 8170
Email: mtasecretariat@malaysiantakaful.com.my

PIAM:
Name: Ms. Susanna G. Simon
Manager, Communications
Persatuan Insurans Am Malaysia (PIAM)
Wisma PIAM
150, Jalan Tun Sambanthan
50470 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan
Tel: 03-2274 7399
Fax: 03-2274 5910
Email: susanna.simon@piam.org.my
Website: http://www.piam.org.my

–BERNAMA