The UGM Academic Hospital (RSA UGM) has launched health tourism and wellness services in collaboration with Sheraton Mustika Resort and Spa.
This initiative aims to create a breakthrough in healthcare services by combining RSA UGM’s excellent medical services with Sheraton’s five-star hotel facilities. This service package offers comfort to tourists by including hotel amenities and supporting tourism accommodations.
This collaboration was highlighted during the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding between RSA UGM and Sheraton Mustika Resort and Spa at RSA UGM on Tuesday (May 21).
Dr. Darwito, the President Director of RSA UGM, and I Gede Sujana, the General Manager of Sheraton Mustika Resort and Spa, conducted the signing ceremony.
Dr. Darwito hopes that RSA UGM can become a pioneer in health tourism and wellness services in Yogyakarta, given that RSA UGM is already supported by quality medical personnel, adequate infrastructure, and advanced medical facilities.
“We may excel in medicine, but that is not enough. Every post-operative patient still needs therapy. A different approach is needed during this therapy,” said Dr. Darwito.
“So, during therapy, they can choose to stay at Sheraton with support from RSA UGM without having to return to their place of origin because staying in the hospital continuously would be very stressful. A happy patient has a high probability of recovery.”
Dr. Darwito added that the effort to integrate medical services with tourism is one reason RSA UGM partnered with Sheraton Mustika Resort and Spa.
“Sheraton is very competent in hospitality and knows how to package health tourism and wellness into an attractive program,” said Dr. Darwito.
He hopes the collaboration between the two institutions will encourage tourists to seek treatment in Yogyakarta without going abroad.
I Gede Sujana, GM of Sheraton Mustika Resort and Spa, stated that this cooperation aims to enhance each institution’s human resources capacity.
“We provide reciprocal training. We train RSA UGM staff in hospitality, culinary arts, and all things related to tourism, while RSA UGM trains our staff in emergency response for dealing with patients,” said Sujana.
He added that integrating medical tourism provides ample opportunity for additional revenue for local tourism. More extended stays will positively impact spending on products and services.
Head of the Health Tourism and Wellness Installation at RSA UGM, Lutfhi Hidayat, MD, stated that the cooperation between RSA UGM and Sheraton Mustika Resort and Spa is an innovative idea that can be developed in the health and tourism sectors to build a new type of tourism in Yogyakarta.
“We have coordinated with many parties, such as the Tourism Industry Association, the Tourism Office, and other hospitals in Yogyakarta. RSA UGM also formed a Health Tourism Board responsible for certifying medical tourism,” he said.
Hidayat emphasized that developing medical tourism in Yogyakarta requires assistance from many parties to avoid being left behind by other regions. This partnership aligns with the broader national agenda to make Indonesia a leading health, cultural heritage, and tourism destination.
Author: Triya Andriyani
Editor: Gusti Grehenson