The Bangladesh Medical Tourism Association (BMTA) and the International Medical Coordinator Companies Association Japan (JIMCA) signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) in Dhaka on Tuesday to strengthen cooperation on medical tourism and international patient coordination, according to a BMTA press release.

The signing took place on Oct 20 at Hotel Omni Residency in Banani, alongside two seminars, the release said. BMTA described the MOU as reflecting both groups’ interest in exploring cooperation on medical tourism, international patient coordination, healthcare communication, and institutional partnerships. It did not publish the terms or duration of the agreement or name the signatories.

The Japanese delegation was led by JIMCA Secretary General Katsuya Sakagami, the release said. It also included Professor Hiromasa Otake, chairman of cardiovascular medicine at Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine and vice president of Kobe University Hospital, and Professor Tomoo Itoh, who heads the hospital’s International Medical Communication Center. Representatives of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), including Kiyoshi Amada, and Futoshi Kono, a board director of SHIP International Hospital, also attended.

BMTA was represented by its president, Mohammad Arif Hossain, along with vice presidents, the general secretary and the joint secretary. Leaders of the Bangladesh Health Reporters Forum also took part.

Itoh led a session on Kobe University Hospital’s international medical activities and possible areas of cooperation with Bangladesh. Otake presented a seminar titled “Frontiers of Cardiovascular Treatment in Japan”, covering developments in cardiovascular medicine and interventional cardiology. BMTA joint secretary Ainul Taraque Nobel gave a presentation on the association’s activities and its plans to advance medical tourism in Bangladesh.

BMTA said it intends to work with JIMCA and other international partners on joint initiatives and to expand institutional ties. JIMCA is described in the release as an organisation that works to make medical travel to Japan safe and of high quality.