Two years ago, a couple from Bangladesh visited Malaysia and while they were enjoying their time in the beautiful city of Melaka, a charity was offering free breast cancer check-ups.
They decided to get checked, and sadly, the couple found the wife was battling breast cancer.
This was very distressing for them because they did not expect to get such news.
At first, the couple thought of going to India for treatment, but then they decided to get the full cancer treatment at Malaysia’s Mahkota Medical Centre.
Janelle Lee, a senior executive in charge of marketing at the medical center, shared the story with Dhaka Tribune on Saturday.
The Malaysia Healthcare Wellness Fair 2023 was held at the Aloki Convention Center in Gulshan on Saturday.
It featured representatives from four renowned medical treatment centers in Malaysia: Institute Jantung Negara (IJN) or National Heart Institute and Prince Court Medical Centre from Kuala Lumpur, KPJ Ampang Puteri Specialist Hospital from Selangor, and Mahkota Medical Centre from Melaka.
These representatives were on hand to provide information about their services to the people of Bangladesh.
The organizers said to celebrate World Mental Health Awareness Month, Malaysia Healthcare hosted the Malaysia Healthcare Wellness Fair (MH Wellness Fair) in Bangladesh.
This event was a collaboration between Malaysia Healthcare Travel Council (MHTC) and their referral partner in Bangladesh, GD Assist Ltd.
The one-day fair featured a range of engaging activities, workshops, and insightful discussions, all designed to promote healthcare and the well-being of the community. It brought together 16 health and wellness providers from both Malaysia and Bangladesh.
"We have patients who receive regular treatment in Singapore, but they can't get the services they expect from us as a Muslim country, where they demand halal medicine," said Janelle Lee,
She added that there are halal medicines in Malaysia, and provide patients with what they need. “Our target is South Asia, where we are already working with more countries including Bangladesh and Indonesia.”
Hafiz Bin Omar, head of service, health tourism, KPJ Ampang Puteri Specialist Hospital said: “About 1,200 Bangladeshis received treatment from our hospital last year, and we provide tele-treatment services to them first, free of cost, especially for Knee replacement treatment, We also provide cancer treatment.”
During the inauguration program, the Vice President of Marketing at MHTC, Shahril Zainal, said: "In the past decade, Malaysia has established itself as the trusted destination for healthcare travellers from Bangladesh seeking quality medical treatments and services to complement the healthcare services in their country.”
Sharmin Tarannum, assistant vice president of GD Assist, told Dhaka Tribune: “Our target is to provide easy access to treatment for people in Bangladesh and to provide affordable services in Malaysia for patients who travel to countries like Singapore, India, for regular treatments.
“A strong emphasis is put on patient safety, technology-enabled healthcare solutions, and evidence-based outcomes. Malaysia ensures that individuals receive top-notch care and peace of mind. As a renowned and recognized global halal hub, Malaysia Healthcare provides halal menus and prayer facilities at hospitals, porcine-free medical products such as sutures and vaccines, and is equipped with Muslim medical professionals and personnel, both male and female, ensuring the needs of Muslim healthcare travelers,” Tarannum added.
The discussions at the fair were intended to ignite interest and motivate participants to discover the outstanding healthcare and wellness services available in Malaysia.
At the event, various healthcare services were offered, including heart screening services, total knee replacement treatment, high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) treatment, as well as Pinkcare Wellness Packages and executive health screening packages provided by Prince Court Medical Centre. 
Additionally, there was a panel discussion led by representatives from Malaysian hospitals, which offered valuable insights into promoting healthcare travel in Malaysia.
Farizal B Jaafar, acting chief executive officer of MHTC said: “Our aim is to continue providing accessible medical care for the community around us by meeting their healthcare needs for years to come. By attending this event, we hope it will inspire the many communities in Bangladesh to visit Malaysia and personally experience the world-class healthcare and wellness services that we offer.”
MD Syed Moiuddin Ahmed, managing director, GD Assist: “One of Malaysia’s key advantages is its seamless end-to-end healthcare ecosystem, ensuring comprehensive care for patients from pre-arrival to post-treatment. As part of this ecosystem, Malaysia Healthcare offers the innovative eVisa Medical Platform, providing healthcare travellers with a faster and more efficient process for applying for medical visas and visa extensions.”
Malaysia Healthcare, led by the Malaysia Healthcare Travel Council (MHTC), is a dedicated agency established under the Ministry of Health Malaysia and is at the forefront of the country’s healthcare travel industry.
At the end of the event, 26 entrepreneurs who participated in the fair were given an appreciation Award.
