MHTC unveils ‘Dr Wira’, ‘Sister Manja’ to promote medical tourism

 The healthcare-themed mascots will promote Malaysia’s ‘Healing Meets Hospitality’ promise and support the Malaysia Year of Medical Tourism 2026 campaign.

Tourism Malaysia deputy director-general for promotions Samuel Lee (left) with Sister Manja and MHTC vice-president for marketing and communications Lokman Izam Abd Aziz with Dr Wira at the introduction of the two mascots.

PETALING JAYA:

The Malaysia Healthcare Travel Council (MHTC) has introduced “Dr Wira” and “Sister Manja”, healthcare-inspired plushies of the official Visit Malaysia 2026 mascots, as part of efforts to strengthen the country’s medical tourism campaign.

Developed in collaboration with Tourism Malaysia, the initiative extends the Visit Malaysia 2026 campaign into the country’s healthcare sector in support of the Malaysia Year of Medical Tourism 2026.

The design for “Dr Wira” and “Sister Manja” was inspired by the Malayan sun bear, one of Malaysia’s most recognisable native species.

MHTC said the sun bear has been chosen because it reflects qualities closely associated with Malaysia — warmth, friendliness, resilience, hospitality and a welcoming spirit — which are central to the experience the country seeks to offer international healthcare travellers.

As official brand ambassador for the Malaysia Healthcare Travel Council, Siti Nurhaliza, will champion the council’s cause.

“From welcoming visitors to caring for patients, ‘Dr Wira’ and ‘Sister Manja’ extend the spirit of Visit Malaysia 2026 into Malaysia’s healthcare journey, bringing the promise of ‘Healing Meets Hospitality’ to life,” MHTC said.

The council said that while the characters are portrayed as a doctor and a nurse, they are not intended to represent only those two professions.

Instead, the pair symbolises Malaysia’s wider healthcare ecosystem that, apart from doctors and nurses, also include allied health professionals, researchers, therapists, patient coordinators, caregivers and hospital support teams, it said.

MHTC said the objective is also to show that beyond treatment, the healthcare travel experience also extends to patients’ interaction with healthcare professionals.

And these experiences form the foundation of MHTC’s “Healing Meets Hospitality” brand promise, it said.

MHTC added that “Dr Wira” and “Sister Manja” will form part of a broader branding campaign alongside singer Siti Nurhaliza, the organisation’s official brand ambassador.

While Siti will champion MHTC, the plushies will bring the campaign to life through visual storytelling, public appearances and engagement activities.

Members of the public will be able to meet the mascots during the MH Wellness Fair on July 16 at Taylor’s University Lakeside Campus.

They will also have the opportunity to take part in a lucky draw offering exclusive “Dr Wira” and “Sister Manja” plushies, as well as an MHTC and Siti Nurhaliza postcards. - FMT