UNAIR NEWS – Medical Tourism service will be available in Surabaya. The signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) by the Mayor of Surabaya, Eri Cahyadi; Rector of Universitas Airlangga, Prof. Dr. Mohammad Nasih, SE., MT., Ak.; and several stakeholders on Monday, September 28, 2021, marked the commencement of medical tourism service in Surabaya.
The MoU was also signed by the Indonesian Travel Agent Association (ASTINDO); Association of The Indonesian Tours and Travel Agencies (ASITA); Indonesian Hospital Association (PERSI); and the Indonesian Hotel and Restaurant Association (PHRI) of East Java. The signing of the MoU was held at the 2nd Floor Lobby, Surabaya City Hall.
Eri Cahyadi, in his speech, said that the idea of providing the service resulted from the suggestions and discussion between the Surabaya City Government and UNAIR. According to him, Surabaya has various potentials that can be optimized regarding Medical Tourism service.
“Therefore, we support the suggestions and proposals (UNAIR, ed), based on the capacity of the Surabaya Local Government and, of course, with the full support of many parties,” he said.
This service, added Eri Cahyadi, has to be supported by stakeholders related to accommodation and hotels, restaurants, hospitals, universities, transportation, and public spaces.
History
On the other hand, Prof. Nasih welcomed the signing of the memorandum of understanding. According to him, it will become another recorded history of Surabaya regarding Medical Tourism service.
Regarding medical services, said Prof. Nasih, the data shows that Indonesian people tend to use medical services abroad, such as in Malaysia and Singapore. Other countries include developed countries such as China and the UK. Meanwhile, in terms of health personnel and facilities, hospitals in Indonesia, especially Surabaya, are not inferior and able to compete.
“They (overseas hospitals, ed) have a very large number of patients from Indonesia. Even in certain practices, people still rely on medical services abroad for diseases that don’t really need very specific services,” he explained.
Therefore, Prof. Nasih hoped that the commitment and the signing would be able to reduce what has happened so far. UNAIR certainly has an extraordinary honor to partner with the Surabaya City Government and all stakeholders and be a part of this history, especially in reducing the number of those who use healthcare services abroad.
“In the short term, of course, those who seek treatment abroad can take advantage of domestic healthcare services with excellent service and good facilities. In the long term, we hope that our healthcare services will be able to compete,” he hoped.
One important thing to achieve this goal, added Prof. Nasih, is coordination and cooperation among all components, starting from hotels, neighborhoods, and hospitals. The coordination includes how doctors are integrated, collaborate, and work together to provide the best healthcare services.
Author: Feri Fenoria (YA/AP)
