CelcomDigi revealed on Thursday that it has signed separate partnership deals with private healthcare provider KPJ Healthcare and Universiti Malaya to turn Malaysia into a regional healthcare tourism hub by leveraging technologies like 5G, AI and extended reality (XR).

The KPJ partnership is focused on developing cross-border telemedicine solutions that give patients access to specialised treatments, offer cost-effective care across borders, and make high-quality medical services accessible to patients worldwide.

CelcomDigi says telemedicine will expand the reach of quality healthcare to remote or underserved regions, while also making that healthcare cost-effective and faster by reducing travel and accommodation costs for patients, whether for initial consultations, second opinions or follow-up treatment.

Chin Keat Chyuan, president and MD of KPJ, said that his company aims to integrate advanced technologies like AI and telemedicine into its healthcare offerings.

“AI enhances efficiency and accuracy by enabling predictive diagnostics, personalised treatment plans and proactive disease management; while telemedicine expands access to specialised care and ensures continuous remote support,” he said in a statement. “These advancements will contribute to a robust healthcare ecosystem that we are building to redefine patient-centred care and fosters a healthier, more connected future for all.”

Last week, KPJ struck a collaboration partnership with Telekom Malaysia’s enterprise and government sector solutions arm TM One to enhance its nationwide network infrastructure with SD-WAN. KPJ said the introduction of SD-WAN into KPJNET would not only boost network performance, scalability and security, but also enable KPJ to adopt solutions such as telemedicine, digital health platforms and AI-driven diagnostics.

Meanwhile, CelcomDigi also announced it has signed a MoU with Universiti Malaya (UM) to explore ways to leverage 5G, AI and XR technologies to transform Malaysia’s healthcare ecosystem.

Under the three-year strategic partnership, CelcomDigi and UM will focus on solutions that improve access to medical care, improve precision and patient-centric care, and transform medical education for future doctors through immersive technologies like XR.

One focus of the partnership is developing “holomedicine” solutions that integrate 3D holograms into clinical care and operating theatres, which CelcomDigi says will not only improve surgical precision, but also enable remote expert consultations.

“Our collaboration with UM aims to equip Malaysian healthcare providers with advanced digital tools that enhance accessibility, efficiency, and personalisation of care,” said CelcomDigi’s chief innovation officer Kugan Thirunavakarasu in a statement.

Kugan added that the partnerships with both KPJ and UM will help position Malaysia as a leader in health tourism, attracting local and international patients seeking high-quality and cost-efficient healthcare solutions.

“By adopting the advancements of telemedicine, we are overcoming traditional barriers to healthcare access, ensuring that patients can receive tailored healthcare services, wherever they are,” he said. “We are empowering both patients and providers to enhance efficiency, improve outcomes, and redefine the patient’s experience.”

CelcomDigi announced both partnership deals at the official launch of the Malaysian government’s National AI Office (NAIO) on Thursday.

The NAIO – plans for which were revealed during the tabling of the government’s Budget 2025 – will operate under the Digital Ministry as a centralised agency for AI planning, R&D and regulatory oversight to drive Malaysia’s transformation into a regional AI development powerhouse, according to its official website.

Among other things, the NAIO’s agenda for its first year includes establishing a code of AI ethics, an AI regulatory framework, an AI impact study and an AI technology action plan from 2026 to 2030.