The hospital will collaborate with the renowned Mayo Clinic.
Jakarta (ANTARA) - Indonesian President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) is hopeful that construction of the Bali International Hospital in Denpasar City, Bali, would make the province a health tourism destination.

"Once the hospital is ready, the people would not need to go abroad to be treated, as they can head to Bali Province. Thus, the province will become a health tourism destination," he remarked at the groundbreaking ceremony of the hospital in Denpasar City, Bali Province, on Monday.

Jokowi noted that annually, some two million Indonesians visited Singapore, Malaysia, Japan, the United States, and other countries, for health treatments due to which Indonesia incurred potential revenue losses to the tune of Rp97 trillion.

Hence, Jokowi lauded the idea of establishing the international hospital that was proposed by State-owned Enterprises (SOEs) Minister Erick Thohir and his staff.

Related news: Government to commence development of health tourism in Bali: Thohir

In addition, the president expects Indonesia to become one of the destinations for foreigners keen on receiving quality health services.

"We hope that not only our own people will go to Bali Province for health treatment but also the foreigners, as the hospital will collaborate with the renowned Mayo Clinic,” he added.

Mayo Clinic is a non-profit American academic medical center.

In addition to the president and the SOEs minister, the groundbreaking ceremony was attended by Cabinet Secretary Pramono Anung, Coordinating Maritime Affairs and Investment Minister Luhut Binsar Panjaitan, Investment Minister/Head of Investment Coordinating Board Bahlil Lahadalia, and other related officials.

On October 2021, the SOEs minister had held a meeting with Governor of Bali I Wayan Koster regarding the construction of a health special economic zone in the region and the readiness of SOEs to support the reopening of international flights to Bali Province as the main entry points to the resort island for foreigners.

Related news: RI citizens spend trillions of rupiah on medical treatment abroad



Translator: Indra Pribadi, Uyu Liman
Editor: Suharto
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