Japan medical tourism facilities to improve under new MoU

Photo: Courtesy

Bangladeshi patients will get improved access to advanced medical services and healthcare information in Japan under a new memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed on Tuesday.

Representatives from Bangladesh Medical Tourism Association (BMTA) and Japan’s International Medical Coordinator Companies Association (JIMCA) signed the MoU at a ceremony held at a hotel in the capital.

The event included discussions on expanding medical tourism and international healthcare cooperation between Bangladesh and Japan.

According to the organisers, the new memorandum will facilitate travel arrangements and medical coordination for Bangladeshi patients interested in receiving treatment in Japan. It will also expand opportunities for Bangladeshi patients to learn about Japan’s advanced cardiac care, robotic medical technologies, and specialized healthcare services.

At a seminar titled “Advances in Cardiac Care in Japan,” Professor Hiromasa Otake, chairman of the Department of Cardiovascular Medicine at Kobe University Hospital, spoke about modern cardiac treatments, optical coherence tomography (OCT), and his experience in complex coronary interventions.

Professor Tomo Ito, head of the International Medical Communication Center at Kobe University Hospital, spoke at a session on international medical communication.

He discussed healthcare services for international patients and the potential for cooperation with Bangladesh.

Those attending the event included JIMCA Secretary General Katsuya Sakagami, Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Country Representative Kiyoshi Amada, and Senior Representative Yuko Morikawa. Also present was Futoshi Kono, a board director of Ship International Hospital.

Representing BMTA were its President Mohammad Arif Hossain, Vice President AMR Majumder Liton, Vice President Shabbir Ahmad Tamim, and Vice President Abdur Rashid; and General Secretary AKM Mufasserul Haque, along with other members.

BMTA has been working since 2021 to promote medical tourism in Bangladesh and establish partnerships with international healthcare institutions. Meanwhile, JIMCA assists international patients seeking medical treatment in Japan.