KUALA LUMPUR: In a move to boost medical tourism amidst the Covid-19 pandemic, the government has agreed in principal to allow patients from designated green zone countries to enter Malaysia for treatment.
Senior Minister (Security Cluster) Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said the special ministerial meeting on the Movement Control Order (MCO) has given the thumbs-up for patients from Brunei, Singapore, South Korea, Japan, Australia and New Zealand to fly in via commercial flights for the purpose.
Upon their arrival at the airport, Ismail said they will be taken from the aircraft directly to their respective hospitals, which is the same SOPs used for those flying in via chartered flights.
"However, the matter is still subject to discussions and agreements from the countries involved.
"The Foreign Ministry has been tasked to conduct discussions and if this is allowed by the countries involved, then we will permit the patients to come in.
"They must first be screened for Covid-19," said Ismail Sabri at a press conference in Parliament today.