BPOM supports health tourism with special herbal medicine access

Jakarta (ANTARA) - Indonesian government is committed to supporting the development of health tourism, by providing special access to certain medicines used in international-standard hospitals and assisting herbal micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs).

Head of the Food and Drug Monitoring Agency (BPOM) Taruna Ikrar said here on Wednesday that health tourism has significant potential to become a driver of national economic growth.

"Globally, the economic value of wellness tourism is estimated to reach US$1.08 trillion in 2026 and is projected to increase to US$2.4 trillion by 2035. Meanwhile, the medical tourism market is expected to grow from US$38.6 billion in 2026 to US$126.2 billion in 2035," Ikrar said.

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Since June 2025, BPOM has issued 19 Special Access Scheme (SAS) approvals for various medicines, including anticancer drugs and immunoglobulins, used in healthcare services in the area.

Ikrar noted every medicine entering through the SAS mechanism must be traceable and used only for approved healthcare services.

"BPOM fully supports the development of Indonesia's medical tourism sector. However, all processes must continue to be carried out with strict supervision and quality assurance so that patient safety remains the top priority," he remarked.

Indonesia has around 6,261 tourism villages; comprising 36 independent villages, 330 advanced villages, 1,015 developing villages, and 4,880 pilot villages.

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According to Ikrar, tourism villages are not only nature and culture-based destinations, but can also develop into centers for the production of jamu—traditional herbal drink—, herbal products, and local food, with the potential to become high-value health tourism destinations.

On the same occasion, Tourism Minister Widiyanti Putri Wardhana said the health tourism trend continues to grow globally, giving Indonesia significant potential to become a leading destination by leveraging its jamu heritage.

"Indonesia can combine the strengths of traditional jamu inherited from our ancestors with modern medical facilities supported by the beauty of the archipelago," Putri Wardhana said.

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Translator: Mecca, Kenzu

Editor: Fransiska Ninditya

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