IHH Healthcare Malaysia secures 4 wins, including 2 awards for Prince Court Medical Centre, at Healthcare Asia Awards 2024

The accolades underscore IHH Healthcare Malaysia’s commitment to clinical excellence, medical tourism and community health, solidifying its position as the top choice for patients both domestically and internationally.

Malaysia’s medical tourism industry is experiencing robust growth, having attracted over a million patients in 2023. This success is driven by Malaysia’s unique combination of high-quality healthcare supported by advanced medical technologies, strategic location, and warm hospitality. 

For IHH Healthcare Malaysia (IHH Malaysia), a prominent leader in the country’s private healthcare sector, focussing on the medical tourism industry has been a strategic priority. With state-of-the-art facilities, world-class medical professionals, and a commitment to patient-centric care, IHH Malaysia has positioned itself as a preferred choice for international patients seeking high-quality and accessible medical treatments.

The organisation’s proactive approach to marketing and partnerships, both locally and internationally, has further bolstered its reputation and contributed notably to the growth of Malaysia’s medical tourism sector. 

As a result, IHH Malaysia and its network of 17 hospitals, which include four Gleneagles Hospitals, 11 Pantai Hospitals, Prince Court Medical Centre and Timberland Medical Centre secured the prestigious Medical Tourism Initiative of the Year - Malaysia award at the Healthcare Asia Awards 2024 for its dedication to providing exceptional medical tourism services. 

Prince Court Medical Centre also scored the Medical Tourism Hospital of the Year - Malaysia accolade for its remarkable contributions to Malaysia’s medical tourism industry, having welcomed medical tourists from more than 140 countries.

Building Robust Foundation for Medical Tourism

The Medical Tourism Initiative of the Year - Malaysia accolade highlights IHH Malaysia’s commitment to attracting international patients by providing a patient-centric approach and fostering trust through clear communication channels.

"Understanding the specific needs and concerns of international patients, we implemented a patient-focussed framework that resonates with these healthcare travellers. This involved curating a dedicated one-stop website featuring multiple communication channels that are supported by International Patient Hotline and medical professionals, for the ease and convenient of our healthcare travellers in making well-informed decisions,” said Sipika Singh, Chief Commercial Officer of IHH Malaysia.

The website features a Location Selector, allowing patients to easily choose their preferred medical facility location and its available specialities and services, when deciding on medical tourism destinations.

To ensure accessibility and ease of communication, IHH Malaysia offers Multiple Communication Channels. Patients can reach out through Email, Hotline, or WhatsApp options to suit their preferences.

For personalised and prompt support, the exclusive International Patient Hotline with the support of Medical Professional is available to assist patients and caregivers alike with pre-appointment consultation, hospital recommendations, doctor’s schedules and appointments, cost estimates and more.

Additionally, the website facilitates the booking of Dedicated Airport Transfer services, ensuring a seamless transportation experience from the airport to the hospital.

To further enhance the patient's travel experience, IHH Malaysia provides Curated Travel Recommendations. These include information on insurance panels, available flights, nearby hotels, and attractions to visit near the hospitals, making the entire medical tourism journey more convenient and comfortable for international patients.

For Prince Court Medical Centre, winning the Medical Tourism Hospital of the Year – Malaysia award further strengthens its position as the top pick amongst healthcare travellers. Their strong reputation also extends globally, gaining recognition and trust from foreign rulers and world leaders. \

Its success in medical tourism is attributed to multifaceted strategic initiatives including physical talks, familiarisation programmes, and engagements with agencies and third-party administrators. It also participates in engagements with embassies, travel agencies, and media outlets, strengthening Prince Court Medical Centre's global presence and collaboration with key stakeholders in the medical tourism industry.

These initiatives have yielded remarkable returns on investment, with medical revenue increasing by a substantial double-digit growth due to aggressive international marketing efforts.

“At Prince Court Medical Centre, we believe in redefining the patient experience with our clinical excellence and world-class service, crafting an environment that is exclusively for you. Understanding the challenges faced by international patients, we offer a range of tailored services including multilingual interpreters to ensure clear communication, assistance with travel and accommodation arrangements, and a culturally sensitive environment. Our holistic approach to care, which encompasses these and other patient-centric services, makes Prince Court the preferred choice for medical tourists seeking not only the best medical outcomes but also a seamless and comfortable healthcare experience,” said Dr. Shuba Srinivasan, Chief Executive Officer, Prince Court Medical Centre.

At the hospital, medical tourists can expect exceptional medical expertise across various specialities and have access to advanced technologies like the fourth-generation da Vinci Xi Surgical System, O-Arm Imaging & Navigation System, and the latest PET-CT scan. It also offers 277 single-bedded individual rooms, ensuring optimal comfort for patients.

Elevating Care for the Patients and Public 

As part of IHH Healthcare’s sustainability commitment to care for its patients and the public by nurturing a healthier and safer society, IHH Malaysia launched a nationwide ‘Ready for You’ Accident & Emergency campaign to empower frontliners with lifesaving skills. Concurrently, Prince Court Medical Centre stepped up its efforts in combating healthcare threats, such as antibiotic resistance, through the ‘Antimicrobial Stewardship Programme’. 

Both initiatives were recognised at the Healthcare Asia Awards 2024, where the 'Ready for You' campaign won the Marketing Initiative of the Year - Malaysia award for its impactful approach, whilst Prince Court Medical Centre received the Clinical Service Initiative of the Year - Malaysia award for its proactive efforts in combating antibiotic resistance. 

• ‘Ready for You’ campaign: Empowering Frontliners with Lifesaving Skills

The ‘Ready For You’ Accident & Emergency campaign, launched in 2023, exemplified its commitment to community health education by aiming to equip frontline service providers, with lifesaving cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and automated external defibrillator (AED) skills.

The campaign empowered over 1,000 individuals from private clinics, insurance companies, and educational institutions, enhancing emergency response preparedness. This initiative not only provided participants with essential lifesaving skills but also set a record-breaking number of participants for a CPR and AED certification training programme in the Malaysia Book of Records.

“As a leading healthcare provider in Malaysia, we are fully prepared to respond to medical emergencies through our emergency departments and multidisciplinary physicians. However, some medical emergencies may call for immediate action on the ground prior to the arrival of ambulance service and the paramedics,” said Sipika Singh. 

“By having more people in the community trained in CPR and the use of AED, there is a higher likelihood that someone will be able to provide fast and precise intervention, which can help in the survivability of a person.”

Concurrently, educational efforts reached diverse communities through a comprehensive First Aid eBook, fun quizzes, first-of-its-kind hands-only CPR kiosk in the country, and innovative social media challenges, fostering widespread knowledge and active participation in emergency response.

• ‘Antimicrobial Stewardship Programme: Combatting antibiotic resistance and elevating patient safety

In recent years, the healthcare industry has faced a growing concern related to the rising trend of antibiotic resistance.

From 2019 to 2021, Prince Court Medical Centre witnessed a significant increase of 59% in Carbapenem utilisation. Alarmingly, this occurred without a systematic review and intervention of Carbapenem prescriptions within 72 hours. This raised concerns about antibiotic resistance and the spread of Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE) which prompted the hospital to act decisively and swiftly.

Prince Court Medical Centre outlined a blueprint and strategic plan to reduce the consumption of Carbapenem by more than 35% for all adult inpatients in 2022. Remarkably, they were not only able to achieve this goal but also exceeded this target with a 47% reduction rate. Furthermore, their objective of enhancing documented prospective reviews and interventions within 72 hours was also exceeded, reaching an impressive 88.7% by June 2023. Additionally, a noteworthy 20% reduction in patients isolated with CRE was observed.

This feat is attributed to the hiring of a clinical pharmacist, who led the prospective review and intervention. The initiative played a vital role in combatting antibiotic resistance and elevating patient safety, which remains the core priority for the medical centre.

“Prince Court Medical Centre's proactive and strategic approach to antibiotic stewardship and infection control has yielded commendable results. By surpassing targets and achieving substantial reductions in Carbapenem consumption, we have demonstrated our commitment to patient safety, cost-effective healthcare practices, and the responsible management of antimicrobial resistance,” said Dr. Shuba. 

About Healthcare Asia Awards
Healthcare Asia Awards recognises exceptional healthcare providers that have redefined the standards of healthcare through their unwavering dedication to innovation, setting of new industry benchmarks, and substantial contributions to their communities.

The Healthcare Asia Awards is presented by Healthcare Asia Magazine. To view the full list of winners, click here. If you want to join the 2025 awards programme and be acclaimed for your organisation's remarkable initiatives and contributions to the healthcare industry, please contact Julie Anne Nuñez at [email protected].