Indonesia plans medical tourism Special Economic Zone

Indonesia is establishing a medical tourism Special Economic Zone (SEZ) for medical and health tourism in Bali Province’s Sanur area. Construction has already begun for a new Bali International Hospital in Denpasar City within the SEZ.

The project is being implemented by PT Aviasi Pariwisata Indonesia (Injourney), through its subsidiary PT Hotel Indonesia Natour, and Indonesia Healthcare Corporation (IHC).
The SEZ area is one of the priority programmes of the Ministry of State-Owned Enterprises (SOE) to boost the economy at both the national and local levels.

The project will also be aimed at Indonesians, as it will allow them to seek treatment in the country rather than having to seek it overseas, usually in Malaysia.

Development of the Sanur SEZ is targeting to become the medical destination for between 4-8% of Indonesians who would normally seek treatments abroad. 240,000 thousand patients are projected to seek treatments in the Sanur SEZ by 2030.

The state estimates that the Indonesian population is a major contributor to medical tourism in the region, with more than two million citizens travelling abroad in 2019 to obtain health services worth US$6 billion.

The IHC states that the Sanur SEZ will provide high-quality, integrated, international-standard health services. As a holding for state-owned hospitals, IHC has 75 hospitals and 143 clinics across the country.

To integrate health services with tourism, hotels will be upgraded and new ones built. The revitalisation will include the Grand Inna Bali Beach Tower Hotel, Grand Inna Bali Beach Garden, and the construction of a Convention Centre.

Construction has begun at the new Bali International Hospital in Denpasar City within Sanur. Mayo Clinic is collaborating on the project, but is not involved in building, operating or owning the hospital. The new state owned hospital is expected to be completed and open for patients by mid-2023. The 300-room facility will provide various medical services, including cancer treatment and cardiac surgery.