Bali International Hospital looking for foreign medical professionals

The Medical Special Economic Zone (SEZ) in Sanur, Bali, where the Bali International Hospital (BIH) will be based, is to be staffed by foreign, Indonesian and ‘diaspora’ doctors.

‘Diaspora doctors’ are Indonesians who are medically qualified abroad in their area of expertise. Their academic accreditations will soon be accepted in Indonesia, and they will be able to practice at the BIH – medical certifications earned abroad are currently not accepted in SEZ.

Under the new Minister of Health Regulation Number 1 of 2023 on the operation of hospitals in Special Economic Zones, it is hoped that foreign medical personnel with suitable qualifications will be allowed to practice in the Sanur Special Economic Zone.

The aim is to create a pool of international medical professionals in Bali, who can pass their medical knowledge on to local practitioners. Current rules and regulations prohibiting internationally trained medical professionals are proposed to be changed.

Recruitment for specialist doctors has already started, with over 100 applications submitted so far.

Deputy Governor of Bali, Cok Ace, said that the completion of the BIH is expected in the final three months of 2023, with full operations already scheduled for 2024.

He added: “The goal is to position the BIH’s quality, security and patient experience at the highest international standard, so Indonesian patients will no longer need medical treatment abroad.”

Both the BIH and the Sanur SEZ were designed, constructed and managed by the Indonesia Healthcare Corporation and Mayo Clinic. The aim is to create a zone with the highest service standards to make Bali a medical tourism destination and to avoid Indonesians travelling abroad for medical treatment.