Muslim-friendly hospitals in Malaysia: current practices and sustainability in medical tourism

Malaysia has become a leading hub for medical tourism, with Muslim-friendly healthcare positioned as a niche market that combines medical treatment with Shariahcompliant services to meet the needs of Muslim patients. While standards such as MS1900:2025 Shariah-based quality management systems - Requirements with guidance (First revision) and MS2610:2015 Muslim-friendly hospitality services - Requirements exist, no comprehensive framework has been specifically designed for hospitals, resulting in inconsistent practices and uneven adoption between public and private institutions. This study examines the current practices of Muslim-friendly hospitals in Malaysia, identifies the requirements for sustaining medical tourism, and proposes a structured framework for implementation. Using a qualitative approach through semi-structured interviews with authorities, industry players, and scholars, the study found that current practices include prayer facilities, gender-sensitive wards, halal-certified food, and the formation of internal Shariah or Ibadah committees. However, challenges remain, such as limited staff competency, a lack of standardised SOPs, and inconsistent regulatory enforcement. Key requirements include developing hospital SOPs that incorporate Muslim-friendly services, establishing Shariah Advisory and Ibadah-friendly Committees, and implementing structured awareness programs. Recommendations target policymakers such as MOH, JAKIM, MOTAC, and MHTC to strengthen regulatory frameworks, encourage hospitals to institutionalise Muslimfriendly services, and promote collaboration between travel agencies and hospitals to offer integrated Muslim-friendly tourism packages. Using the Viable System Model (VSM), the study suggests a holistic framework to integrate these services into hospital operations and medical tourism, enhancing Malaysia’s competitive edge in sustainable Muslim-friendly medical tourism.