MALACCA: The launch of the nation’s first Hinotori robotic-assisted surgical system at Mahkota Medical Centre will strengthen Malaysia’s position as a hub for international patients seeking advanced medical care.
Group chief executive officer of HMI Medical Chin Wei Jia said the investment was driven not only by the need to enhance local healthcare services, but also to ensure that foreign patients who travel to Malaysia receive the best treatment options available.
“For international patients, we are very mindful of the additional costs they bear.
“They have to travel, stay here, and many come with companions who also need accommodation.
“That is why it is important for us to provide them with the highest standards of treatment, so their time, effort and resources are worthwhile,” she said in a press conference during the launch on Tuesday (Sept 23).
Chin noted that robotic-assisted surgery provides higher precision and faster recovery, making it an attractive option for patients from abroad who want safe, efficient treatment with minimal downtime.
She said the new system would complement Malaysia’s reputation as a preferred medical tourism destination, offering procedures that combine advanced technology with cost-effective care compared to other countries.
“At HMI, we seek to provide this option to all patients, whether from Malaysia or overseas.
“But for those who travel such long distances, we feel an even greater responsibility to give them the best,” she stressed.
Chin added that the adoption of Hinotori also reflects HMI’s ongoing commitment to invest in state-of-the-art medical technology, from diagnostics to surgical innovation.
“With each step, including this Japanese-developed robotic surgery platform, we are enhancing our ability to deliver world-class healthcare to both local and international patients,” she said.
Chin revealed that HMI has already trained a strong pool of medical professionals to ensure smooth adoption of the technology.
“Across our two hospitals (Mahkota Medical Centre and Regency Specialist Hospital), we have 15 surgeons who have already been trained across multiple disciplines, including urology, obstetrics and gynaecology, and general surgery. We also have more than 20 nurses trained.
“The training has not stopped. We are continuously training more surgeons, and the process is quite intensive.
“But this is something we will definitely support, because it helps more surgeons gain the latest skill sets and allows us to offer more robotic surgery options to our patients,” she added.
The introduction of Hinotori at Mahkota Medical Centre marks Malaysia’s entry into the next phase of minimally invasive surgery, offering a competitive edge in attracting more foreign patients to the country.
