International Health Conference Will Promote Bali Medical Tourism In 2023

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Bali Convention Management and the International Medical Council have signed a deal to host the 15th International Medical Council Conference from the 6-9th November 2023. The agreement is set to create a platform to promote Bali as a world leader in medical tourism. 

The Chairman of the Indonesian medical Council, Professor Taruna Ikarar MD, Ph.D., told reporters that the event would trigger a domino effect in the global medical sector. The event will be attended by representatives from 194 countries around the world. He noted that the major international event would also benefit Bali’s tourism and hospitality sector. 

Prof Ikarar said, “This has a domino effect. The leaders of medical institutions also involve military doctors and medical faculties around the world.” The agreement was signed on Monday, 7th November, at the Puri Santrian Hotel in Sanur. 

Prof Ikarar addressed reporters to explain, “we want to develop medical tourism; this is [for] the conference staff who come. With that, our goal is to make medical tourism in Indonesia, and especially Bali, grow”. He referenced a report for the Indonesian Ministry of Finance that over 600,000 of Indonesia’s highest earners travel abroad for medical treatment. They spend around IDR 150 trillion on medical tourism.

He hopes some of these funds can be directed back into Indonesia. He said, “we certainly can’t stop the IDR 150 trillion, don’t spend it call, but only 10%, of course, the impact would be big”. Suggesting that the Indonesian Medical Council wants to develop the medical infrastructure in Bali to help bring international medical tourists to the island and to offer more options for domestic patients. 

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The organizers are excited about the scope of the conference as a truly global event. Prof Ikarar has said, “the conference will be the biggest medical event ever held.” The meeting will be attended by at least 2,000 people. Aside from Indonesia-specific conversations about medical tourism, the conference will explore how to develop further the standardizing of medical practices across borders, medical education standards, technology transfer within medical fields, and career development for doctors.

As the event organizer, Bali Convention Management’s CEO, Levie Lantu, has said that the contract was a form of ‘just in the Balinese community. Lantu told reporters, “this trust must be interpreted with a strong collaboration. Given this extraordinary trust, it will be a booster for us”. 

The Head of the Bank Indonesia for Bali Province, Trisno Nugroho, told the press that the event is a new opportunity for Bali’s event sector. He said, “we really appreciate that the conference can be held in Bali, especially since Sanur has also been designed as a Health Special Economy Zone.” He noted that the success of the upcoming G20 Summit would show the world that Bali should be considered a destination for major international events.

In alignment with the vision of Tourism Minister Sandiaga Uno’s diversification of tourism in Bali, the island will welcome more international events in the next 12 months. This includes conferences like the 15th International Medical Council Conference and significant sporting events, including qualifying rounds of the FIFA U20s World Cup and the Olympic World Beach Games. 

Medical Tourism is a crucial area of development for Bali. Not only has Sanur been named a Health Special Economy Zone, but Bali’s Sanglah Hospital is preparing to open a new purpose-built department that focuses on aesthetic, wellness, and anti-aging treatments.

The new cosmetic department is set to offer an alternative for medical tourists who travel to Singapore, Bangkok, or Chiang Mai for treatment. The development at Sanglah Hospital is a partnership between the hospital and the Indonesian government and is set to open in 2023.