Already one of the world’s most popular tourist spots, Bali is now aiming one step further to become a prominent medical tourism destination. In doing so, the Bali provincial administration is now constructing a new hospital that will be equipped with world-class facilities in Sanur. The administration has provided Rp 199 billion ( US$14.95 million ) of its annual budget for the hospital’s construction. Construction of the hospital had begun last year and was targeted for completion this year. The new Bali Mandara Hospital is being built on a 2.95-hectare plot of land in Sanur and will be able to accommodate 176 inpatients. The hospital would be equipped with high-standard facilities, including for bariatric surgery. The hospital is also designed as an integrated cancer treatment center with facilities for radiodiagnostics, radiotherapy and nuclear medicine. Regarding the cancer treatment facilities the new hospital is expected to be on par with Dharmais Hospital in Jakarta and Hasan Sadikin Hospital in Bandung. A therapy center for the elderly is also part of the plan. As many pensioners from across the world opt to spend their time in Bali, the hospital is expected to provide a quality service for the elderly. To meet the demand for alternative medicine, the hospital will also contain health spa facilities, a traditional herbal treatment center and an acupuncture therapy service. The provincial administration would consult with international hospital-management experts to help establish a world-class hospital.
Head of the Indonesian Tour and Travel Agency Association ( ASITA ) Bali Chapter said moulding Bali into a medical tourism destination would not be an easy task. The foremost thing to do was to establish a high-quality hospital. He cited the lessons learned from Singapore and Malaysia, both of which had become popular medical tourism destinations because of their high-standard hospitals with people from all over the world seeking their services.
He hopes that the hospital being built by the provincial administration would become a high-standard facility. However, he suggested that the administration construct another hospital in a more secluded location, away from the city with natural scenic views. For medical tourism, he prefer areas such as Bangli regency and Gianyar.