DPR member backs Bali International Hospital push into medical tourism

Denpasar — — Bali International Hospital in Sanur has been highlighted by a member of Indonesia’s House of Representatives as a potential hub for medical tourism, particularly for Indonesians who currently travel to Singapore and Malaysia for treatment, according to a recent meeting with the hospital’s management and Indonesia Healthcare Corporation (IHC).

RRI reported that DPR member Syarif Fasha visited Bali International Hospital in Denpasar and said the hospital’s facilities and services were well equipped to support the development of medical tourism. He argued that Bali’s established appeal as an international tourism destination could be leveraged to attract patients for healthcare services, but stressed that public awareness of the hospital’s capabilities remained limited and needed stronger promotion.

During the visit, Bali International Hospital President Director Sheira Aurani said the hospital was developing services based on healthcare needs, including procedures that Indonesians have traditionally sought overseas. She identified immunotherapy and precision radiotherapy among services already available at the hospital.

Aurani also indicated that the hospital had begun receiving Indonesian patients who previously obtained care in Malaysia and Singapore. According to her account, some of these patients chose Bali after learning that doctors who practice in Singapore were also providing services at Bali International Hospital.

Services, patients and proposed markets

Based on statements at the meeting, the hospital is targeting at least two immediate markets: Indonesian patients seeking an alternative to treatment abroad, and foreign visitors who may combine medical care with travel to Bali. Fasha mentioned Australian visitors as a potential source of demand for medical tourism services.

Publicly available information confirms that Bali International Hospital is designed as a tertiary referral facility inside the Sanur Health Special Economic Zone, with a focus on specialties including cardiology, oncology, neurology, orthopedics and preventive medicine. As of mid-2026, core specialties such as oncology with nuclear medicine, cardiology, neurology, orthopedics, pediatrics and check-ups are operating, while some service lines remain at an announced or partial stage of implementation.

Analysts of the Sanur health zone note that outbound Indonesian medical travel is often driven by demand for clear information on clinical standards, physician credentials, treatment pathways, costs, insurance, language support and follow-up care. Meeting participants did not disclose detailed data on Bali International Hospital’s treatment capacity, pricing, or clinical outcomes, and no specific patient-volume figures were released in the RRI report.

Fasha also encouraged the hospital to build synergies with Bali’s hospitality sector to support medical visitors, such as accommodation arrangements for patients and accompanying family members, but no concrete hospitality partnerships or hotel agreements were announced.

Government role and international links

Bali International Hospital is the flagship facility of the Sanur Health Special Economic Zone (KEK Kesehatan Sanur) in South Denpasar. The zone was established by Government Regulation PP No. 41/2022 as Indonesia’s dedicated health and medical-tourism special economic area. BIH is operated by Indonesia Healthcare Corporation (IHC), the state-owned hospital holding company that consolidates facilities formerly under PT Pertamina Bina Medika and related state-owned enterprises.

During the visit, Fasha’s role was to express political support for developing medical tourism rather than to announce new funding or a nationwide medical-tourism programme. He urged the hospital and IHC to make fuller use of existing facilities and to intensify promotion, partnerships and service utilisation.

Bali International Hospital’s management and external analysts describe a collaboration with Mayo Clinic in the United States as a knowledge-sharing and clinical collaboration, not an ownership stake. Mayo Clinic International executives have stated that the organisation acts as a consultant for BIH’s development, providing strategic advice and serving as a clinical knowledge partner while not running the hospital.

Bali-based coverage similarly notes that the partnership focuses on building design, governance, medical services, quality assurance and academic cooperation, with an aim of aligning BIH’s standards and patient experience with international benchmarks.

Available reporting also points to collaboration between BIH and Icon Group, an Australia-based oncology provider, for oncology and nuclear medicine services at the hospital. These international links are framed as part of the effort to position BIH and KEK Sanur as a leading medical and health-tourism destination in Indonesia.

RRI’s account of the DPR visit notes hopes that experienced managers and clinicians with international backgrounds will help attract patients who currently seek care at hospitals such as Mount Elizabeth in Singapore. Commentators on KEK Sanur emphasise that building patient trust will depend on transparent publication of clinical information, independent evidence on quality and outcomes, and clarity about the scope of international collaborations.

Key data reported:

• Hospital: Bali International Hospital, located in the Sanur Health Special Economic Zone in South Denpasar, Bali.
• Operator: Indonesia Healthcare Corporation (IHC), the state-owned hospital holding company.
• Selected services referenced in the DPR visit: immunotherapy and precision radiotherapy, targeted at patients who previously went abroad.
• International links: consultancy and clinical collaboration with Mayo Clinic, and oncology collaboration with Icon Group.

Sources

• RRI.co.id – House Sees Bali Hospital as Potential Medical Tourism Hub
• KekSanur.com – Bali International Hospital (Sanur): What It Is, Who Runs It
• BaliSez.id – KEK Sanur: Indonesia’s Health & Medical Tourism SEZ, Explained
• Asia News Network – Mayo Clinic only acting as consultant for Bali International Hospital
• Bali.com – Bali International Hospital plans to open at the end of 2023