Malaysians love to travel, whether it is for vacation, business, work, or study. It is an experience that enriches the soul, broadens perspectives, and creates memories that last a lifetime. Beyond the excitement and adventure, it is crucial to travel healthy and safe. Hence, travel medicine which focuses on disease prevention, risk assessment, and medical preparedness plays a vital role in safeguarding the health and well-being of travellers.
Featuring this, the Institute for Research, Development and Innovation (IRDI) of the IMU University successfully organised a one-and-half day seminar titled “Introduction to Travel Medicine Seminar” with the theme “Safe Travels: A Travel Medicine Seminar for Healthcare Professionals” on 1-2 March 2025 at the IMU University Bukit Jalil Campus, Kuala Lumpur.
Keynote Speakers for the Seminar
Prof Gerard Flaherty
President of the International Society of Travel Medicine (ISTM), Professor of Travel Medicine and International Health from the University of Galway, Ireland and Adjunct Professor at the IMU University
Prof Datuk Dr Lokman Hakim bin Sulaiman
Consultant Public Health Physician and Infectious Disease Epidemiologist, Deputy Vice Chancellor for Research, and Director of IRDI, IMU University
A/Prof Datuk Dr Sethuraman Nagappan
Consultant Physician of the IMU University
Prof James Koh Kwee Choy
Consultant Physician of the IMU University
The seminar kicked off with Prof Gerard presenting on the “Global Status of Travel Medicine Education and Practice” followed by Prof Datuk Lokman providing an overview of the landscape of travel medicine in Malaysia.
Subsequently, a wide range of interesting topics were also covered in the seminar, which included pre-travel medical consultations, travel health risk assessments, travel vaccinations, prophylaxis for malaria, rabies and other vector-borne diseases, travellers’ diarrhoea, as well as prevention of travel-related trauma and injuries.
Besides, the seminar also educated the multidisciplinary audience on special traveller populations, mass gatherings and medical preparation of umrah and pilgrims, high altitude travel, preparation of the immunocompromised traveller, air traveller health considerations, as well as evaluation of the ill returned traveller. In addition, there was also a lunch talk on the role of vaccination in dengue control by Dr Shaharudeen Bin Kamaludeen who is the President of the Malaysian Society of Infection Control and Infectious Diseases.
The seminar concluded with an interactive open dialogue discussing the future of travel medicine education and practice in Malaysia.
The seminar was delivered in a hybrid mode, with both onsite and online sessions. The event attracted 122 participants consisting of general practitioners (GPs), pharmacists, nurses, from both public and private practice, as well as academic faculty members and students who were enthusiastic to learn about travel medicine.
The Travel Medicine Seminar was timely in addressing the growing demand for travel health services and preventing travel-associated illnesses through education and awareness.
This seminar has also helped in equipping healthcare providers with the knowledge to manage travel-related health risks, while promoting safe travel practices among the public. It has also enhanced professional competence by offering interdisciplinary topics like infectious diseases, environmental health, and post-travel care. Ultimately, this seminar has instilled and reinforced among the audience, how simple pre-travel preparation such as insurance, prophylaxis medication, travel precaution and post-travel vigilance can save lives!
Travel medicine has yet to be formally recognised as a special discipline within primary care services and there is no structured training programme towards accrediting such services in Malaysia. Moving forward, IMU University should take a leadership role in advocating the importance of travel medicine among public and practitioners alike and developing educational and training programs to bridge the gap in professional development in this discipline.
Reflecting on the seminar, Prof Flaherty commented “I was delighted to be involved in organising and delivering this first travel medicine seminar in Malaysia. The participant engagement reinforces my belief in the potential of Malaysia in becoming a global leader in travel medicine practice and of IMU University in being the natural home of travel medicine education and research in Malaysia.”
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