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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider Mindanao devider Kuala Lumpur eyes deeper healthcare ties with Davao City

Kuala Lumpur eyes deeper healthcare ties with Davao City

Published Jul 23, 2026 11:10 pm
MALAYSIAN Consul General in Davao, Deddy Faisal Bin Ahmad Salleh, and Borneo Global MediTourism Congress and Expo director Hema Kandy, along with Davao City representative and stakeholders, officially launched the Borneo Global MediTourism Congress and Expo 2026 on Thursday, July 23, at the Consulate General of Malaysia in Davao City. (Photo via Ivy Tejano)
MALAYSIAN Consul General in Davao, Deddy Faisal Bin Ahmad Salleh, and Borneo Global MediTourism Congress and Expo director Hema Kandy, along with Davao City representative and stakeholders, officially launched the Borneo Global MediTourism Congress and Expo 2026 on Thursday, July 23, at the Consulate General of Malaysia in Davao City. (Photo via Ivy Tejano)
DAVAO CITY – Malaysia is looking to deepen healthcare and tourism ties with Davao City through the inaugural Borneo Global MediTourism Congress & Expo (BGMT) 2026, inviting healthcare providers, tourism stakeholders, and investors from Southern Philippines to participate in the regional gathering.
Speaking during the media launch on Thursday, July 23, Malaysian Consul General in Davao Deddy Faisal Bin Ahmad Salleh said the initiative aims to expand cross-border healthcare, medical tourism, and investment opportunities in the Brunei Darussalam-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines East ASEAN Growth Area region.
Salleh emphasized that the congress reflects Malaysia's commitment to strengthening healthcare connectivity and regional cooperation, while paving the way for greater collaboration between Sarawak and Mindanao through cross-border healthcare, medical tourism, and investment initiatives.
The two-day congress will be held on Oct. 12 and 13 at the Borneo Convention Center Kuching in Sarawak, Malaysia. The organizers expect the event to feature about 50 companies, draw 400 trade delegates, and attract around 3,000 visitors.
Hema Kandy, founding director of Borneo Global Meditourism Congress and Expo, said the congress, also known as BGMT 2026, is being positioned as a regional marketplace for healthcare partnerships, investment, innovation, and tourism development.
"It will bring together hospitals, medical professionals, policymakers, airlines, insurers, travel facilitators, wellness providers, and business leaders from ASEAN and other international markets," Kandy said.
She emphasized that the event presents an opportunity for Sarawak and Mindanao to deepen their longstanding geographical and economic ties through healthcare, tourism, investment, and knowledge exchange.
Proposed areas for cooperation include cross-border patient referrals, hospital and specialist partnerships, wellness and rehabilitation tourism, medical education, professional exchanges, healthcare technology investments, travel partnerships, and business matching between healthcare and tourism stakeholders.
For Davao and the wider Southern Philippines, Kandy said participation in BGMT 2026 could provide a platform to showcase local healthcare capabilities, attract investors, and strengthen links with Sarawak, Sabah, Brunei, and Kalimantan.
Organizers have invited hospitals, government agencies, tourism organizations, universities, insurance providers, wellness centers, and private companies from the region to participate as delegates, exhibitors, hosted buyers, strategic partners, speakers, and industry experts.
"BGMT 2026 is expected to support the development of a more integrated BIMP-EAGA healthcare ecosystem by encouraging cooperation rather than competition among member economies," Kandy said.
She said medical tourism has expanded beyond hospitals and medical treatment to include airlines, hotels, logistics companies, insurance providers, wellness centers, digital health firms, and government agencies.
Kandy said Sarawak is presented as a key center of this effort due to its modern hospitals, internationally trained specialists, advanced medical technology, regional connectivity, cultural heritage, and tourism offerings.
The event is also expected to reinforce Malaysia's campaign for the Malaysia Year of Medical Tourism 2026 and strengthen Sarawak's position as a regional gateway for patients seeking quality healthcare and recovery experiences.
Salleh said the initiative demonstrates the country's commitment to promoting its healthcare system and enhancing cross-border medical connectivity, particularly within BIMP-EAGA and the broader ASEAN region.
According to the organizers, patients increasingly consider not only medical treatment but also convenience, safety, hospitality, comfort, and the overall recovery environment when selecting a destination.
The congress has the theme, "Shaping Sarawak's Role in the Global Medical Tourism Landscape," reflecting its goal of integrating healthcare excellence with tourism while promoting innovation, sustainability, and patient trust.
BGMT 2026 is co-organized by the Sarawak Tourism Federation and Orbitel Systems Sdn. Bhd., in association with the Sarawak Tourism Board and in collaboration with the Malaysia Healthcare Travel Council.
It is endorsed by Sarawak's Ministry of Tourism, Creative Industry, and Performing Arts and the Ministry of Public Health, Housing, and Local Government, with support from the Association of Private Hospitals of Malaysia and Business Events Sarawak.
Kandy said the congress will also feature a community program called "Where Nature Heals," which will highlight Sarawak's traditional wellness practices and indigenous healing knowledge as part of the region's broader health tourism offering.
"The event will include a congress, a trade exhibition, and a gala dinner recognizing industry practitioners," she said. "Partnership agreements and memoranda of understanding are also expected to be signed in the presence of local and international dignitaries."
The organizers also recognized Philippine Airlines and Cebu Pacific during the briefing for helping make travel between the Philippines and Malaysia more accessible.
Salleh and Kandy emphasized the role of travel agencies and tour operators in creating seamless journeys for medical travelers, encompassing transportation and accommodation, healthcare coordination, and post-treatment support.
They said the future of medical tourism will increasingly depend on collaboration among neighboring regions rather than on direct competition between destinations.
"By combining the healthcare, tourism, aviation, and business strengths of Malaysia, the Philippines, Brunei Darussalam, and Indonesia, BGMT 2026 aims to establish Borneo as an integrated and globally competitive medical tourism destination," the consul general said.
Salleh said they hope the congress will become a long-term platform for regional cooperation, improved healthcare access, investment, and sustainable economic growth across BIMP-EAGA.

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