Indonesian President Joko Widodo has expressed his hope that construction of the Bali International Hospital in Denpasar city, Bali will make the province a health tourism destination.

Tourists take photos in Bali (Photo: Getty Images)

At a groundbreaking ceremony on December 27, Widodo said the hospital is built on a site of 41.5ha under a joint effort between the Indonesian Ministry of State-owned Enterprises and the US’s Mayo Clinic. It is expected to be operational by mid-2023.

Minister of State-owned Enterprises Budi Gunadi Sadikin said at least 600,000 Indonesian "medical tourists" a year went overseas for treatment, most of them heading to Singapore and Malaysia.

He affirmed that the Government will simplify procedures to create favourable conditions for medical experts and foreign firms, as well as build more community health centres in 171 districts and wards, in a bid to attract more foreign investment in the supply of medical equipment and materials.

Source: VNA