Business · Companies · 2 hrs ago
Indonesia Seeks to Keep Medical Spending at Home Through Health Zones
Indonesia’s government wants health-focused special economic zones to keep Rp150 trillion in medical spending at home.
The estimate assumes two million Indonesians seek treatment abroad each year and spend an average of Rp75 million each.
The government says the zones could offer an alternative to overseas care, and Indonesia already has three health-focused zones, including one in Sanur.
Separately, it aims to attract 1.25 million international patients and Rp200 trillion in revenue, based on average spending of Rp160 million per patient.
The plans matter because officials say the zones could bring international-standard health facilities and investment in medical equipment and medicines.
The government has also allowed foreign doctors to practise in the zones, with the aim of sharing their expertise with Indonesian doctors.
Sanur’s zone is targeting patients from Australia, nearby Asian countries, Europe, North America and the Middle East, but no timeline for reaching these goals was given.
Indonesia plans to use health-focused special economic zones to encourage residents to seek treatment at home and attract international patients.
Officials estimate that about 2 million Indonesians seek treatment abroad, but their estimates of the resulting spending differ: Rp150 trillion or Rp200 trillion.
The government aims to retain Rp150 trillion by redirecting domestic patients to the zones.
It also targets Rp200 trillion in foreign-exchange earnings by attracting 1.25 million international patients.
Officials say the zones could improve health services, draw investment into medical production and transfer knowledge from foreign doctors.
- Who
- Indonesia’s government, including Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto and Deputy Health Minister Dante Saksono Harbuwono.
- What
- The government is developing health-focused special economic zones to keep more medical spending in Indonesia and attract international patients.
- When
- The announcements were made on 21 October 2026.
- Where
- The zones include Sanur in Bali, Batam and an international education, technology and health zone in Banten.
- Why
- To redirect spending by Indonesians who seek treatment abroad and attract foreign patients and investment.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Airlangga and Dante outlined plans and targets for health-focused special economic zones at government events in Jakarta.
CNBC Indonesia and Detik published reports on the plans and the officials’ estimates.
- Estimated patients seeking care abroad
- About 2 million Indonesians
- Estimated spending abroad
- Rp150 trillion, according to Airlangga’s estimate reported by CNBC Indonesia; Rp200 trillion in Detik’s report
- Domestic spending targeted for retention
- Rp150 trillion
- International patient target
- 1.25 million patients
- Target foreign-exchange earnings
- Rp200 trillion
- Health-zone locations
- Sanur, Banten and Batam
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What people are saying
This has the potential to substitute for Indonesians who seek treatment abroad, whose spending is around Rp150 trillion. This is what we can substitute with the existing special economic zones.
With that, the transfer of knowledge from foreign doctors can pass to our doctors, so that our doctors can eventually independently provide services at the same international standard.