South Sumatra Evaluates Medical Tourism Programme After Six Months
Palembang (ANTARA) - The Government of South Sumatra Province is evaluating the implementation of the Sumsel Health Tourism programme, or medical tourism, after six months of operation, as part of efforts to improve healthcare services whilst positioning Palembang as a health tourism destination.
Apriyadi, Assistant I for Governance and People’s Welfare at the South Sumatra Regional Secretariat, said in an interview in Palembang on Tuesday that the evaluation involved the provincial Health Office, hospitals, universities and travel agencies, in order to review the programme’s progress and identify aspects that still require improvement.
“This programme is still new, so there is much that needs to be fixed. The most important thing is strengthening coordination and collaboration between parties so that healthcare services and the tourism sector can run in tandem,” he said.
Palembang has the potential to be developed as a health tourism destination, as besides having hospitals with adequate facilities, the city also boasts culinary and cultural attractions.
“When people talk about Palembang, they always remember pempek, songket and its cultural tourism. This is the potential we must package together with healthcare services,” he said.
The main target of the Health Tourism programme at present is the people of South Sumatra, so that they no longer need to seek certain healthcare services abroad or in other regions.
“Our hope is that residents who want treatment or a medical check-up no longer need to go abroad. In Palembang there are already hospitals capable of providing those services, such as Siti Fatimah Hospital, Mohammad Hoesin Hospital and other hospitals,” he said.
The six-month evaluation shows the programme is beginning to have a positive impact. A number of South Sumatra residents who had previously planned to undergo health checks or medical check-ups (MCUs) in Malaysia chose to cancel those plans and use healthcare services in Palembang instead.
“There are already residents of South Sumatra who originally wanted to go to Malaysia, but after receiving an explanation they finally chose to do their MCU here. This is a positive signal that public trust is starting to grow,” said Apriyadi.
Meanwhile, the Head of the South Sumatra Health Office, Trisnawarman, said the evaluation was carried out to measure the programme’s effectiveness since its official launch six months ago.
“Alhamdulillah, patient movement has begun. Travel agents have also started introducing these services, both to local residents and those outside the region,” he said.
Nevertheless, building South Sumatra into a health tourism destination will take time and promotion carried out on a sustained basis.
“We cannot immediately be like Malaysia. What matters is that people know that the quality of hospitals in Palembang is no lesser. It is now a matter of marketing strategy and continually improving services,” he said.
Trisnawarman added that promotion of the Health Tourism programme will be expanded through various media, from videotron displays and mass media to digital media and travel agency networks.
This step is expected to further raise public awareness of the healthcare services available in Palembang, whilst driving the growth of health tourism in South Sumatra.