Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment wants to bring foreign doctors to Indonesia

Last updated on May 17th, 2021 at 10:37 am

The potential for foreign workers entering Indonesia to increase. As is known, previously there were hundreds of the arrival of foreign workers from China.

The Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan opened a discourse to facilitate entry permits for foreign doctors to Indonesia. Not all doctors will be brought, but specialist doctors who are not available yet in Indonesia.

This is part of a plan to bring foreign specialist doctors into the country to support the development of medical tourism or international hospitals, which was initiated by Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan.

Jodi Mahardi, the spokesman for the Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment, said that in the future, foreign doctors will have to work with local doctors.

“Later, foreign doctors who come are only specialist doctors who are not in Indonesia yet, and they have to work together with our doctors. So it’s not arbitrary to bring in doctors from outside. So Indonesians can get better medical services,” said Jodi in a statement, Wednesday, August 19.

This effort was made because the government is reviewing plans to develop the medical tourism industry in Indonesia. Medical tourism is a trip to get health, fitness, and healing services in the destination country.

As is known, other countries in Asia such as Thailand, Singapore, India, Malaysia, and South Korea are developing medical tourism. In 2016, Thailand recorded the number of medical tourists reaching 2.29 million people with a market value of US $ 6.9 billion.

According to Jodi, the development of medical tourism in Indonesia is very realistic. In addition, the number of medical tourism globally has also increased from year to year. If Indonesia develops this medical tourism industry, many positive impacts will come.

“For example, economic diversification, attracting foreign investment, providing jobs, developing the health care industry in Indonesia, and holding back the pace of health services from flowing to more prosperous countries. To support the industry, government support is urgently needed through massive promotions and other supporting facilities,” Jodi added.

Previously, Luhut also revealed that the government would build an international hospital. He said that President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo had agreed with the plan.