Ida Bagus Oka backs tourist clinic

DENPASAR, Bali: Bali Governor Ida Bagus Oka has welcomed a local hospital's plan to set up a special clinic for foreign tourists as a public health service.

"It's only appropriate for Bali as the largest tourist region in Indonesia to have an exemplary health service center for foreign tourists," Oka said after delivering a speech on the 38th anniversary of Sanglah Hospital.

The existence of a special clinic for foreign tourists would remove any questions about health facilities on the vacation resort island, Antara reported him as saying.

"As a health service center for tourists, we should prepare all facilities and human resources," he said.

Sanglah hospital managing director, I.G. Lanang M. Rudiartha, in his speech said medical, paramedical and non-medical officers working at the clinic should be proficient in foreign languages, especially English. (mds)