RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - The Food and Drug Monitoring Agency (BPOM) and the Ministry of Tourism will collaborate to develop wellness and medical tourism, aiming to optimize the economic potential of Indonesia’s health and tourism industries.

Health tourism is seen as a driver of economic growth, with the expansion of wellness and medical tourism underscoring the importance of stakeholder collaboration.

Globally, the economic value of wellness tourism is projected to reach USD 1.08 trillion by 2026 and rise to USD 2.4 trillion by 2035 in line with growing demand. Meanwhile, the medical tourism market is expected to expand from USD 38.6 billion in 2026 to USD 126.2 billion by 2035.

“The Indonesian Food and Drug Authority (BPOM) fully supports the development of medical tourism in Indonesia. However, the process must remain prudent. Strict supervision and quality assurance ensure patient safety remains the top priority,” BPOM Head Taruna Ikrar said during an audience with Tourism Minister Widiyanti Putri Wardhana at the Sapta Pesona Building in Jakarta on Tuesday, June 23, 2026.

To support medical tourism, BPOM provides special access to certain drugs through the Special Access Scheme (SAS). The SAS allows the import of medicinal products, ingredients, cosmetics, and health supplements not yet licensed for distribution in Indonesia. This facility supports international-standard hospital services in Bali and other regions.

Since June 2025, BPOM has issued 19 SAS approvals for various healthcare needs, including anticancer drugs and immunoglobulins.

Taruna noted that Indonesia has around 6,261 tourist villages at varying stages of development: 36 independent, 330 developed, 1,015 developing, and 4,880 pioneering.

“These tourist villages can become centers for developing safe, high-value local herbal and food products. BPOM is ready to provide assistance to ensure these products meet safety, quality, and efficacy standards, thereby improving community welfare,” he said.

Tourism Minister Widiyanti Putri Wardhana welcomed the strengthened cooperation with BPOM, saying it could support the growth of Indonesia’s health tourism sector.

She emphasized that global health tourism trends are expanding and present significant opportunities for Indonesia, supported by the country’s wealth of traditional herbal medicine, modern healthcare services, and natural and cultural attractions.

“We have strong potential to lead this market. Indonesia can combine the excellence of traditional herbal medicine, inherited from our ancestors, with modern medical facilities, all supported by the natural beauty of the archipelago,” she said. (Misni Parjiati)