Bali isn't usually the first place you think about when someone brings up medical tourism, but that's where John King found himself one day, stepping off a direct flight from Sydney to Denpasar Airport. A sufferer of chronic kidney failure, Mr. King needed four to five hours of dialysis three times a week, so constant access to the necessary hemodialysis equipment is a must. Little did he realize that he didn't always need to spend those long hours in a dreary treatment room in Sydney; he could get his dialysis done in the comfort of a first-class medical-care center while on vacation.
With the recent opening of BIMC Hospital Nusa Dua (Bali Indonesia Medika Citra), Bali's entry into medical tourism provides Mr. King and thousands of international visitors with advanced out-patient services in a spa-inspired environment á la Bali. BIMC's Nusa Dua facility can add reflexology, manicure, pedicure, even facials to services like Mr. King's dialysis treatment.
"It's kind of like the Rolls-Royce of dialysis treatments," says Mr. King of his Bali treatment. "I certainly never receive this much attention from medical staff during treatments back in Sydney."
BIMC Nusa Dua is the group's second hospital to open in Bali; its first facility was established as a medical institution in 1998 and was recently recognized as a fully equipped hospital in 2007. A comprehensive qualification program for all medical staff, combined with continually evolving high standards and protocols for healthcare practices and services, have both made BIMC a trusted name in the Asia-Pacific medical community.
BIMC's Dialysis Centre takes advantage of specialized therapy chairs, each equipped with Internet and TV and a sunset view of a golf course from floor to ceiling windows. Clients enjoy the use of the latest hemodialysis technology in a dedicated spa-style unit. "Our approach fulfills the highest international quality and safety requirements, therefore our patients receive the same standards of care as they are used to in their home country, yet with a unique destination experience," says Australia-trained Jo Skala, Technical Advisor and renal specialist nurse.
"When I heard about BIMC Hospital from a friend I became relieved to know there was the opportunity to return to Bali," remembers Mr. King. "Time passes quickly in such a wonderful, stress-free place and with my resort accommodation just minutes from here, well, I'll definitely be back."
The two-storey BIMC Nusa Dua Hospital is the only hospital within easy reach of Nusa Dua and the tourism enclaves of Tanjung Benoa, Jimbaran and Uluwatu. Situated in the heart of the Bali Tourism Development Corporation (BTDC), BIMC Hospital Nusa Dua is located within walking distance of the Courtyard by Marriott Bali (compare prices), Bali Golf and Country Club, and the Nusa Dua shopping mall and beachfront esplanade.
For an overview of Bali's medical scene, read our article on hospitals and clinics in Bali, Indonesia. We've also got information about Bali health tips and getting a good deal on your travel insurance. Compare rates on the Courtyard by Marriott Bali and other Nusa Dua hotels.
What are the costings per dialysis treatment for aussie tourists?