Malaysia ready to become hub for hepatitis C treatment

At the press conference. (Photo: Internet)

Kuala Lumpur (VNA) – Malaysian Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin said on November 16 that Malaysia is ready to become a hub for hepatitis C treatment in the region by offering a treatment method combining ravidasvir and sofosbuvir at affordable prices.

Speaking at a press conference in conjunction with the region’s leading medical travel market intelligence conference insigHT 2021,

Jamaluddin said the new product for medical tourism was offered following Malaysia becoming the first country to be given conditional approval to offer treatment from the combination of the two drugs.

He added that Malaysia will market this treatment to travellers from abroad, and as it is a medium-term treatment of around three months. The country expects a multiplier effect on the economy.

The offer was also in line with the World Health Organisation's (WHO) mission to reduce the spread of hepatitis virus infection by 90 percent and reduce deaths due to the virus by 65 percent by 2030, he said.

According to him, medical tourism sector brought home nearly 1.7 billion RM (408 million USD) each year before the pandemic. Malaysia targets 20 million RM this year and 800 million RM in revenue next year./.