SEAToday.com, Jakarta - Bali International Hospital (BIH) is a strategic initiative to meet global health service needs in Bali, said Erick Thohir, Indonesia's Minister of State-Owned Enterprises (BUMN).

He emphasized on Friday, (11/22/2024), that with Bali's reputation as a premier global tourism hub, the island requires international-standard medical facilities to serve both tourists and locals.

Each year, around 2 million Indonesians travel abroad for medical treatment, spending up to IDR 90 trillion, Erick noted during his visit to BIH in Sanur’s Special Economic Zone for Health. 

"Every year, around 2 million Indonesians choose to seek medical treatment abroad, with total expenditure reaching 90 trillion rupiah. This figure shows that there is a great opportunity to meet these needs domestically," said Erick in a statement in Jakarta, Friday as quoted from Antara.

BIH aims not only to provide excellent medical services but also to curb the nation’s dependency on overseas healthcare. The hospital is 92% complete and is expected to begin operations in March 2025.

Designed with a green hospital concept, BIH will feature 255 beds and advanced Centers of Excellence in fields like cardiology, oncology, and neurology. 

Equipped with cutting-edge technology such as MRI 3 Tesla and Linac radiotherapy, the hospital aims to elevate Bali’s health and tourism sectors while attracting Indonesian doctors from abroad to strengthen the country’s healthcare system.

Writer: Fariz Ahmad Luthfi