Farrer Park joins online telehealth platform
Consultations offered to subscribers who are unable to travel across borders
First hotels join Indonesian programme to attract domestic health tourists
Pandemic will change direction of tourism in the country , with patients more willing to travel locally
Hotel Nikko Bali Benoa Beach is among the first hotels in Bali to register as an official hotel partner with the Indonesia Medical Tourism Board ( IMTB ), in partnership with nearby BIMC Siloam Hospital .
The board , which promotes healthcare travel in Indonesia , has been courting hotels to join its online platform where patients can book available treatments across Indonesia alongside accommodation at participating hotels charging exclusive rates .
The five-star resort is not far from BIMC Siloam Hospital , which is offering outpatients nightly rates from IDR850,000 ( US $ 57 ) under the partnership . This includes daily breakfast for two and daily drop-offs to the hospital .
Having watched neighbouring Singapore , Malaysia , and Thailand develop their own medical tourism strategies , Indonesia ’ s government is determined to boost its own offering and in particular attract domestic patients who might otherwise travel overseas for treatment .
The plan to develop medical tourism in the country had been years in the making , but little was done until the borders closed this year .
According to the CIMB ASEAN Research Institute , Indonesians spent US $ 11.5 billion annually on healthcare abroad in 2017 , mostly in Malaysia . Between 600,000 and a million Indonesians sought medical treatment overseas .
The government is currently focusing on attracting domestic travellers ahead of foreign tourists . It believes that mass tourism will decline following the pandemic , while niche travel such as medical tourism will come to prominence .
Indonesia will continue to close its doors to foreign tourists until a new coronavirus vaccine is found and immunity can be provided , though it has reached agreements with South Korea and the United Arab Emirates for travel bubbles . etDoc ’ s connected healthcare platform has
G added Farrer Park Hospital in Singapore to its roster of treatment providers .
The service ’ s mission is to make healthcare affordable for everyone , and it has collaborated with a number of additional providers to bring accessible cross-border medicine to more users .
Launched in 2018 , GetDoc has gained in popularity as more users look overseas for solutions that are available around the clock . Its subscriptions are beneficial for patients who do not qualify for local medical subsidies or have medical insurance that only covers in-hospital visits .
Anyone can sign up to GetDoc ’ s platform for free and search , book , chat , and teleconsult with specialists .
“ We are pleased to partner with one of Singapore ’ s leading healthcare providers to empower individuals in our community and across the region to manage their healthcare offline and online while continuing to make quality healthcare more accessible for families , students , carers and more ,” said GetDoc ’ s founder , Woon Shung Toon , in a press release .
The app also offers coverage for generalist and specialist providers , ranging from certified doctors and consultants to dentists , traditional Chinese medicine practitioners and allied health professionals such as physiotherapists , optometrists , and psychiatrists . Cashless payments can be made directly through the platform to pay for services .
The app also has a live chat function that allows subscribers to have simple questions answered by a doctor through the direct message service , without needing to go to a clinic .
In addition , GetDocPlus members can make use of benefits offered by partners , including gym memberships , supplements , rewards , and discounts at online retailers .
GlobalHealthAsiaPacific . com NOVEMBER 2020
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