A milestone for trade, innovation, and everyday wellness

From billion-ringgit trade targets to AI wearables and halal-certified pills, International Health Week 2025 put Malaysia at the center of healthcare's global future

- KRIZETTE CHU

In a landmark moment for both Malaysia and Southeast Asia, International Healthcare Week (IHW) 2025 opened in Kuala Lumpur with resounding success.

The event gathered over 900 exhibitors and 21,000 visitors from more than 50 countries, signaling Malaysia’s rise as a regional hub for healthcare innovation, manufacturing, and medical tourism.

Organized by Informa Markets Asia in collaboration with MATRADE and the Ministry of Investment, Trade, and Industry (MITI), IHW 2025 united five leading health-focused expos under one roof: CPhI Southeast Asia (pharmaceutical ingredients), WHX (World Health Expo), WHX Labs (diagnostics and lab tech), Medtech Southeast Asia (medical devices manufacturing), and HIMSS (digital health and hospital information systems).

During the opening ceremony held at MITEC last July 16, 2025, Margaret Connolly, CEO of Informa Markets Asia, said, “This integrated format promotes essential cross-border collaboration to address complex global health challenges. Malaysia has the infrastructure, talent, and strategic trade relationships to lead this charge.”

YB Dato! Seri Reezal Merican Naina Merican, chairman of MATRADE, highlighted Malaysia’s exponential growth in medical exports, noting that the country's medical device trade increased from RM13.5 billion in 2013 to RM46.5 billion in 2024—a remarkable 300 percent growth.