Following the explanation of health tourism and wellness tourism, Dr. Andry Dahlan discusses the more specific category of medical tourism. He highlights that while medical professionals may already be familiar with this area, many people in the tourism sector and the general public still need clearer understanding regarding what medical tourism actually includes.
Within the broader umbrella of health tourism, medical tourism stands as a distinct segment focused on individuals who travel to obtain medical services. Unlike wellness tourists—who are generally healthy and seek preventive, lifestyle-enhancing activities—medical tourists are typically reactive, seeking diagnosis, treatment, or interventions for existing health conditions.
Based on global data from around 2010—data that Dr. Andry states remained highly relevant even through 2016 during his work in Singapore—the top categories in medical tourism include:
Dental Care
Dental services remain one of the most demanded medical procedures due to cost variations across countries and insurance coverage differences.
Cosmetic Surgery
A major driver of international patient travel due to differences in pricing, expertise, and post-operative care options.
Elective Surgery
Planned procedures that are not medical emergencies but often require specialized facilities.
Fertility Treatment
A significant component of medical tourism, especially where technology, regulations, and success rates differ across nations.
Cardiology & Cardiac Surgery
Highly specialized, often prompting patients to travel to countries known for excellence in cardiac care.
Oncology (Cancer Treatment)
Strongly associated with international patient referrals for diagnosis, therapy, and advanced cancer management.
Orthopedic Surgery
Includes joint replacements and other musculoskeletal interventions requiring advanced surgical expertise.
Ophthalmology
Eye surgeries such as cataract and refractive procedures.
Organ Transplantation
Limited globally but still part of high-end medical tourism flows.
Pediatrics
Specialized care for complex conditions in children.
These categories consistently rank among the top 10 global medical tourism services.
Dr. Andry highlights that Southeast Asia remains one of the most active regions for medical tourism, led by:
Singapore – recognized for cardiology, oncology, transplantation, and other advanced tertiary care.
Malaysia – known for high-quality yet affordable medical and dental services, including fertility treatment.
Thailand – a global hub for cosmetic surgery, dental care, orthopedics, and integrative medical–wellness care.
He notes that Indonesia has not yet reached its full potential, despite its strong clinical talent and strategic geographic position. This gap presents a major opportunity for development.
One key purpose behind establishing Global Health Tourism Assistance (GHTA) is to contribute to the structured growth of this industry in Indonesia. According to Dr. Andry, GHTA is actively involved in:
Conducting research and situational analysis
Writing scientific publications
Presenting findings at international conferences
Developing strategies and frameworks for medical tourism
Supporting both government and private sectors in building sustainable health tourism ecosystems
These efforts aim not only to enhance Indonesia’s competitiveness, but also to shift the country from being predominantly an outbound medical tourism nation to becoming a strong inbound destination in the future.
Setelah menjelaskan perbedaan antara health tourism, medical tourism, dan wellness tourism, dr. Andry Dahlan melanjutkan dengan pemisahan konsep lebih detail, khususnya mengenai medical tourism. Menurut dr. Andry, para tenaga kesehatan umumnya sudah memahami karakteristik medical tourism, tetapi masyarakat dan pelaku industri wisata perlu memahami komponen-komponen medis apa saja yang menjadi daya tarik utama dalam segmen ini.
Berdasarkan data sekitar tahun 2010, ada beberapa jenis layanan medis yang paling banyak dicari oleh wisatawan medis (medical travelers) di dunia. Menurut dr. Andry, daftar ini masih relevan dan tidak banyak berubah hingga tahun 2016, termasuk ketika beliau berada di Singapura untuk riset kesehatan.
Layanan-layanan tersebut meliputi:
Dental Care
Perawatan gigi ternyata masih menjadi salah satu layanan paling banyak diminati. Hal ini karena biaya dan kualitas layanan gigi bervariasi antar negara, sehingga banyak wisatawan mencari perawatan di tempat yang lebih terjangkau atau lebih baik.
Cosmetic Surgery
Operasi estetika tetap menjadi sektor besar dalam medical tourism. Wisatawan mencari negara dengan spesialisasi dan pengalaman dokter yang lebih tinggi atau biaya yang lebih efisien.
Elective Surgery
Termasuk operasi yang dapat direncanakan sebelumnya, bukan kondisi darurat.
Fertility Treatment
Pengobatan fertilitas juga menjadi salah satu layanan populer, terutama karena perbedaan regulasi, teknologi, serta tingkat keberhasilan antar negara.
Cardiology & Cardiac Surgery
Singapura, misalnya, sangat terkenal sebagai pusat pengobatan kardiologi kelas dunia.
Oncology (Cancer Treatment)
Layanan untuk kanker, termasuk diagnosis dan terapi lanjutan.
Orthopedics
Termasuk operasi tulang dan sendi, yang seringkali membutuhkan teknologi dan keahlian tinggi.
Ophthalmology
Perawatan mata, termasuk operasi katarak dan refraktif.
Organ Transplantation
Meski tidak semua negara menyediakan layanan ini untuk pasien asing, tetap menjadi bagian dari medical tourism global tertentu.
Pediatrics
Perawatan anak, terutama untuk kasus-kasus khusus.
Dr. Andry menjelaskan bahwa daftar tersebut secara internasional masuk ke dalam 10 besar layanan medical tourism yang paling banyak dicari oleh pasien lintas negara.
Di tingkat Asia Tenggara, negara yang paling dikenal kuat di sektor medical tourism adalah:
Singapura
Unggul dalam kardiologi, onkologi, transplantasi, dan layanan medis high-end lainnya.
Malaysia
Terkenal dengan layanan berkualitas tinggi tetapi lebih terjangkau, terutama dalam dental care, fertility treatment, dan wellness medis.
Thailand
Menonjol dalam cosmetic surgery, orthopedic surgery, dental care, dan integrasi medical–wellness.
Sementara itu, Indonesia belum cukup menonjol meskipun memiliki potensi besar. Peluang ini yang ingin ditangkap oleh GHTA.
Dr. Andry menegaskan bahwa salah satu tujuan utama berdirinya Global Health Tourism Assistance (GHTA) adalah mengambil peran aktif dalam:
Riset dan kajian medical tourism
Penulisan artikel ilmiah
Publikasi di jurnal internasional
Partisipasi konferensi global
Pengembangan sistem, strategi, dan ekosistem medical tourism di Indonesia
Langkah ini dilakukan agar Indonesia tidak hanya menjadi negara pengirim pasien (outbound), tetapi juga bertransformasi menjadi negara tujuan (inbound) medical tourism di masa depan.
Join forces with Global Health Tourism Assistance to elevate your health and wellness tourism offerings. Our expertise in consulting, training, and development ensures that your initiatives are not only successful but also sustainable. Let’s create a future of excellence together.Â
Bergabunglah bersama Global Health Tourism Assistance untuk mengembangkan layanan health dan wellness tourism Anda ke tingkat yang lebih tinggi. Dengan keahlian kami dalam konsultasi, pelatihan, dan pengembangan, setiap inisiatif Anda tidak hanya akan berhasil, tetapi juga berkelanjutan. Mari kita ciptakan masa depan yang unggul—bersama.