The development of Indonesia’s first international medical tourism hospital in Batam’s Special Economic Zone (SEZ) has officially begun. Mayapada Group, in collaboration with India’s Apollo Hospitals, launched the groundbreaking of the Mayapada Apollo Batam International Hospital (MABIH) in Sekupang.
According to Rizal Edwin Manansang, Acting Secretary-General of the National SEZ Council, the project represents a concrete step in building Batam as a destination for medical tourism.
“Every year, around two million Indonesians seek medical treatment abroad, spending nearly USD 12.6 billion. With this hospital, we aim to position Batam as a health tourism hub and keep this capital within the country,” Rizal said in Batam on Tuesday (Aug. 26, 2025), as quoted by Antara.
The hospital will occupy a 2.9-hectare site in Batam’s SEZ, with construction expected to take 24 months. The central government has designated Batam as Indonesia’s second official health tourism zone after Sanur, Bali, giving the project high-level strategic importance.
Batam Mayor and Head of the Batam Indonesia Free Zone Authority (BP Batam), Amsakar Achmad, expressed strong support for the project.
“On behalf of the City Government and BP Batam, we welcome this groundbreaking. The process has been swift, and we hope it will strengthen Batam as both an investment hub and a healthcare hub,” Amsakar said.
He added that MABIH would not only create jobs and stimulate economic growth but also establish Batam as a regional destination for medical tourism.
Billion-Dollar Investment in Healthcare
Mayapada Healthcare President Commissioner Jonathan Tahir highlighted that the project had been in planning for more than a year with Apollo Hospitals.
“We target completion by the end of 2027 with an investment value of more than USD 63 million. Batam was chosen because of its strategic location and its ability to compete with hospitals in neighboring countries,” Jonathan stated.
Jonathan stressed that the hospital aims to reduce the outflow of Indonesian patients seeking treatment overseas.
“We believe fewer patients will need to travel abroad, and we can compete directly with hospitals in Malaysia and Singapore,” he said.
To ensure international standards, Mayapada has already initiated training programs for its doctors at Apollo Hospitals in India and plans to bring in Apollo’s leading specialists to practice in Batam.
“Beyond quality, our services will be offered at far more competitive prices,” Jonathan added.
A Green, State-of-the-Art Facility
Designed by HKS Singapore, MABIH will be built as a green hospital featuring 11 floors, one semi-basement, and a capacity of 250 beds. The first development phase covers 1.68 hectares of the total 2.9-hectare site, while the second phase will add specialty clinics, supporting facilities, and patient-centered amenities.
Navin Sonthalia, President Director and CEO of Mayapada Healthcare, emphasized that the hospital will integrate cutting-edge medical technologies across its core services. These include cardiovascular, oncology, neurology, gastro-hepatology, and orthopedics, with advanced capabilities such as organ transplantation and cancer treatment.
“MABIH will feature AI-powered cardiac monitoring, cell and gene therapy, precision diagnostic imaging, and next-generation robotic surgery. With these facilities, we aim to deliver global-standard care to Indonesians at home,” Navin said, as reported by Kompas.
Thanks to fiscal incentives under the Batam SEZ, the hospital will also benefit from lower operating costs, making advanced healthcare accessible at competitive rates for both domestic and international patients.
Strengthening Indonesia’s Role in Medical Tourism
The Indonesian government hopes that with MABIH, the country can reverse the trend of outbound medical travel while attracting patients from abroad. Rizal Edwin Manansang reaffirmed this ambition, stating,
“We hope MABIH can become the primary choice for local, national, and international patients.”
As Batam moves closer to its vision of becoming a Southeast Asian healthcare hub, MABIH stands as a milestone in Indonesia’s economic transformation—keeping healthcare spending within the country and offering world-class medical tourism right at its doorstep.
Source: Antara, Kompas
Photo Credit: IDN News
