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Govt seeking investment for world-class hospital in Labuan Bajo
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Tourist boats are seen moored at Labuan Bajo Port in Komodo district, West Manggarai, Flores, East Nusa Tenggara. Labuan Bajo is the entry point for tourists hoping to enjoy the sights of Komodo National Park, including the Komodo dragon, a species of giant lizard. (thejakartapost.com/Markus Makur)
T
he Coordinating Maritime Affairs Ministry is looking for investors to build an international hospital in Labuan Bajo, as the area’s special economic zone (SEZ) for ecotourism has so far attracted 80,000 visitors from around the world.
Currently, there is only one international hospital operating in the Komodo National Park area — Siloam Hospital run by Indonesia’s Lippo Group. Construction on the hospital began in December 2015. More world-class hospitals are needed, especially to provide healthcare services for foreign tourists.
"There are two main potential dangers [that could require hospital treatment]. First, DCS [decompression sickness] that commonly occurs in diving and, second, injuries from potential Komodo dragon attacks," Coordinating Maritime Ministry expert staff member Bambang Susanto said in Jakarta on Thursday.
DCS must be treated with hyperbaric oxygen therapy in a decompression chamber, also known as a diving chamber. The ministry has asked Lippo Group to install a chamber at Siloam Hospital, Bambang said.
"As for anticipating Komodo dragon attacks, the hospital needs to ensure the availability of the vaccine. Currently, it is only available in Denpasar, Bali," he added.
Bambang said the government was speeding up the establishment of a special authority to handle the SEZ, aiming to see it running by the end of the year. (ags)
