Batik Air, National Heart Institute of Malaysia and Tourism Malaysia launch Medical Tourism Drive

Batik Air Malaysia, the National Heart Institute of Malaysia (IJN), and Tourism Malaysia have launched a strategic partnership to boost regional medical tourism and enhance international patient access to specialized cardiac care, according to an official statement issued in Kuala Lumpur. The year-long initiative, which commenced on May 1, 2026, combines regional air connectivity with advanced cardiovascular expertise to position Malaysia as a premier healthcare hub for travellers across ASEAN, South Asia, and beyond. Under the “Fly High with a Healthy Heart” campaign, international passengers flying with Batik Air can access exclusive medical benefits. Eligible travellers presenting a valid boarding pass will receive a 15 percent discount on IJN’s Essential Health Screening package, reducing the cost to RM765. Furthermore, a 20 percent discount on the comprehensive Premier Heart Screening package is being extended to the first 1,000 international passengers, priced at RM1,760. To ease the logistics of cross-border medical travel, Batik Air is introducing a 10 percent airfare discount for international patients travelling to IJN for treatment. The discount applies to patients and their accompanying family members upon presentation of an official IJN appointment letter. Batik Air Chief Executive Officer Datuk Chandran Rama Muthy highlighted Malaysia’s expanding footprint in the healthcare travel sector, noting that the country welcomed approximately 1.85 million healthcare travellers in 2025, generating RM3.35 billion in revenue and exceeding national targets. Within the ASEAN region, Thailand continues to lead the sector, attracting over 3 million medical tourists annually. Prof. Dato’ Sri Dr. Mohamed Ezani Md Taib, Group Chief Executive Officer of IJN, emphasized that the collaboration aims to foster proactive health management and early detection among travellers. As a premier regional referral centre, IJN performs over 4,400 cardiothoracic surgeries and 17,000 cardiac catheterisations annually. The push aligns directly with national campaigns including Visit Malaysia 2026 and the Malaysia Year of Medical Tourism 2026. Tourism Malaysia Director General, Y.Brs. Tuan Mohd Amirul Rizal Abdul Rahim, stated that Malaysia’s recognition among the world’s top six medical tourism destinations for 2026 underscores its robust healthcare ecosystem. The mutual promotional benefits and travel concessions under this tripartite agreement will remain in effect until April 30, 2027.