Huge Investment Of China, Singapore, And Australia In The Health Sector, Luhut Encourages The Establishment Of Medical Tourism

JAKARTA - Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan encouraged the establishment of the Indonesia Health Tourism Board (IHTB) to develop health tourism in Indonesia.

"The main purpose of establishing IHTB is to protect and develop health tourism in Indonesia. IHTB is also expected to minimize public distrust in medical institutions in Indonesia, and increase added value for the national economy", he said at the Coordination Meeting for the Establishment of the Indonesia Health Tourism Board which was held virtually, quoted from Antara, Thursday, September 16.

Luhut said Indonesian people's awareness of health problems showed a positive trend. This is indicated by spending in the health sector which reached USD 337 per capita in 2018, as well as an increase in Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in the health sector, with the highest investment coming from Singapore, Australia, and China.

"This indicates that the Indonesian health sector has promising investment opportunities in the future", said Luhut.

Meanwhile, Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin said his party was simplifying regulations related to the arrangement of medical tourism.

"The Ministry of Health as the Coordinator of the Pokja (Working Group) for Simplification of Regulations is currently simplifying regulations related to organizing medical tourism", said Budi.

These regulations, among others, issued Perkonsil No. 97 of 2021 concerning the Adaptation of Specialist Doctors for Indonesian Citizens Graduates Abroad; Revised Permenkes No. 67 of 2013 concerning the Utilization of Health Workers of Foreign Citizens; Government Regulation (PP) No. 47 of 2021 concerning the Implementation of the Hospital Sector; and PP No. 5 of 2021 concerning the Implementation of Risk-Based Business Licensing.

On the same occasion, Deputy for Tourism Products and Activities Organizers of the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy (Kemenparekraf) Rizki Handayani Mustafa said in the past two years, his party had intensively discussed health tourism with the Ministry of Health.

The development of Indonesian health tourism is divided into four major scopes, namely medical tourism based on superior services, fitness and herbal tourism based on traditional and herbal health services, health sports tourism based on sporting events, and scientific tourism based on MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conventions, exhibitions).

Each of these scopes is contained in the National Action Plan for 2021-2024 and will be the main focus in each year.

In addition, medical tourism also strives to provide health facilities at affordable prices and of the best quality for tourists.