Improve Health Tourism In Indonesia: Collaboration Of Industry Players To Build Superior Health Tourism Destinations

JAKARTA - In the midst of the rapid growth of world health-tourism, Indonesia has begun to strengthen this sector by cooperating with various parties involved in the health and tourism industry.

The Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy, Sandiaga Uno, invited all stakeholders, ranging from providers of health services, medical personnel, hospitals, health clinics, hotels, shopping centers, to recreational facilities and regulators to participate in the development of Indonesia's health-tourism.

In his statement when inaugurating Malang Health Tourism last April, Sandiaga Uno reminded that neighboring countries such as Malaysia and Thailand have succeeded in developing this sector within 15-20 years.

"We see how Malaysia, Thailand, will take 15-20 years. But the market is from Indonesia, if we move quickly, I believe that in five years we will really match the health services provided. The concept must be collaborative, we must work together," said Sandiaga.

Minister Sandiaga Uno also emphasized the importance of experience given to patients who come to health facilities in Indonesia.

"It feels that what must be owned by patients if they come to health facilities, they must feel served, and feel that they are spent. (For health service providers) What has been changed is the mindset, how to provide the best and excellent service, with the support of the central government to the provinces, districts, cities, and business actors," added Sandiaga Uno.

Based on tourism data in 2021, as many as 1.2 million Indonesian tourists abroad and 699,000 of them are conducting medical treatment abroad. Departing from this data, President Jokowi also emphasized that it is important that the Health Institute launch health-tourism facilities to attract domestic and foreign tourists for medical treatment purposes.

One of the most popular medical treatments carried out abroad is eye care. Based on data from the health ministry, 8 million people experience visual impairments, 1.6 million suffer from blindness, and 6.4 million experience moderate and severe vision problems. This certainly has an impact on quality of life and productivity, because we all know that the eye is one of the most vital organs of the body.

Director of Ciputra SMG Eye Clinic, drg. Ferra J. Papilaya, MM.,MARS in his statement, Wednesday, May 10, stated that Ciputra SMG Eye Clinic is one of Indonesia's leading eye clinics in Jakarta and Surabaya, confirming that almost half of their patients came from outside the two cities.

This is driven by those who partner with the Singapore Medical Group, have service standards, eye specialists and very capable facilities, including convenience and integrated services which are part of health-tourism.

Ciputra SMG Eye Clinic is one of several health services that support the Indonesian government's program to develop integrated health-tourism, several other health facilities in Indonesia are also starting to improve to implement health-tourism facilities.

Health-tourism in Indonesia has great potential to develop, with unique and diverse health tourism attractions, and increasing quality health service support.

Through the development of health-tourism, it is hoped that Indonesia can save the country's foreign exchange, increase tourist visits, encourage economic growth, and create new jobs in the tourism and health sectors.