Healthcare mission to Malaysia and Thailand
In collaboration with the embassy of the Netherlands in Bangkok and the Netherlands Enterprise Agency, we are organizing a mission to stimulate and facilitate cooperation between Dutch companies and innovators and the Malaysian and Thai healthcare sector.
Driven by progress on the implementation of UHC policies, a growing middle class, ageing populations, and medical tourism, the pressure on Malaysia’s healthcare system is increasing. This increasing demand outgrows capacity building of the local healthcare infrastructures, leading to an increasing demand for solutions to increase the efficiency of health providers.
This healthcare mission will take place from 8 till 13 September and aims to connect local actors with Dutch companies to facilitate cooperation and learning on both sides.
Medical devices
An increased demand for healthcare services resulting from economic growth, a larger middle class, and ageing population has intensified the pressure on the Malaysian health sector. In order to cope with the growing demand Malaysian health providers aim to expand their facilities and invest in equipment and technologies that result in increased operational efficiencies.
There is a strong demand for cutting-edge technologies that contribute to improvements in the quality and efficiency of healthcare, both in the public and private sector. As Malaysia is one of the top global medical tourism destinations, there is a large incentive for private healthcare providers to invest in innovative technologies which maximize health outcomes and increase patient comfort.
The Netherlands ranks number 1 worldwide in medical technology patent applications. Dutch companies can share valuable technologies and innovations with Malaysian stakeholders to help bridge the gap between demand and capacity.
eHealth
The Malaysian Ministry of Health has set ambitious plans to make use of health information technologies to increase the quality, accessibility, and affordability of healthcare. Great innovations have been made already, such as the MyHealth Portal which has improved the health literacy of the population by providing information on health issues, the health system, and education on prevention. Other uses of eHealth, however, are hampered by insufficient health information infrastructures.
The Malaysian government has set ambitious goals, such as setting up a Malaysian Health Data Warehouse and the involvement of all public hospitals in health information exchange. The Netherlands has key strengths in the sphere of eHealth as Dutch companies offer solutions n health information exchange, interoperability, telemedicine, and personal health monitoring.
Mobility and vitality
Malaysia’s population is ageing rapidly. UN population projections show that Malaysia is likely to become an ageing population by the year 2020, when 7% of the population is expected to be “ageing” 65 and over, and “aged” by 2040 when 14% is expected to be over 65. This is considered an extremely rapid transition, with similar transitions taking up to a 100 years in European countries.
This rapid transition means that finding solutions to provide suitable care for this group and preparing the health system for an emerging aging population are an important challenges at the moment. An ageing population is also very topical in the Netherlands, where 19% of the population is currently aged 65 and over. Mobility and vitality healthcare solutions can help people to live and age healthily and reduce the burden on society.
Dutch companies can share valuable insights, technology, and experiences on elderly care and cooperate with Malaysian stakeholders.
Get involved
Would you like to engage with Dutch companies in the field of healthcare? You can reach out to us via email at kll.ea@minbuza.nl