Depok, January 9, 2026 — The Faculty of Public Health (FPH), Universitas Indonesia (UI) held an Open Doctoral Promotion Examination for the Doctoral Program in Public Health on Friday (9/1). On this occasion, Etik Retno Wiyati successfully defended her dissertation entitled “Strategies to Enhance the Resilience of Medical Tourism Hospitals in Indonesia.”
The dissertation was motivated by the increasing number of Indonesian citizens seeking medical treatment abroad, reflecting the still-limited resilience of domestic medical tourism hospitals and its impact on national foreign exchange losses. Etik’s research aimed to develop an assessment model for measuring the resilience level of medical tourism hospitals and to formulate practical, context-specific strategies to strengthen resilience in Indonesia.
The study employed a qualitative design using a phenomenological approach through in-depth interviews, observations, and document reviews. Participants included policymakers, professional associations, academics, hospital management, members of the public who seek medical treatment overseas, and diaspora physicians. Source and method triangulation techniques were applied to ensure data validity.
The findings produced a resilience assessment model for medical tourism hospitals consisting of seven dimensions and 45 indicators: Strategic Planning; Governance; Leadership and Culture; Health Quality Service; Health Resources; Networking and Marketing; and Continuous Improvement and Learning. Measurement using this model indicated that the overall resilience level of medical tourism hospitals in Indonesia falls within the moderate category, highlighting the need for integrated, cross-sectoral improvement strategies.
In addition, the study formulated resilience enhancement strategies developed through SWOT analysis, stakeholder input, and lessons learned from best practices in countries such as Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, and South Korea. These strategies were mapped into four Balanced Scorecard perspectives—Finance, Customer, Internal Process, and Learning and Growth—as the basis for a five-year roadmap to strengthen the resilience of medical tourism hospitals in Indonesia.
The doctoral promotion examination was chaired by Prof. Dr. Indri Hapsari Susilowati, S.K.M., M.K.K.K., with Prof. Dumilah Ayuningtyas, M.A.R.S. serving as Promoter, and Prof. dr. Amal Malik C. Sjaaf, S.K.M., Dr. PH., and Prof. Dr. drg. Wachyu Sulistiadi, M.A.R.S. as Co-Promoters. The examination panel was led by Prastuti Soewondo, S.E., M.P.H., Ph.D., and included Prof. Asnawi Abdullah, BSc.PH, MHSM, MSc.HPPF, DLSHTM, Ph.D.; Prof. dr. Ali Ghufron Mukti, M.Sc., Ph.D., AAK.; Dr. dr. Harimat Hendarwan, M.Kes.; and Destanul Aulia, S.KM., MBA., MEc., Ph.D. Through this research, FPH UI once again reaffirmed its role in producing strategic scholarly work that contributes to strengthening the national health system and enhancing Indonesia’s competitiveness in medical tourism.
Based on the successful defense of her dissertation, Etik Retno Wiyati was awarded the Doctoral degree in Public Health. She is recorded as the 4th graduate of the Doctoral Program in Public Health in 2026, the 376th graduate of the Doctoral Program in Public Health, and the 493rd doctoral graduate of FPH UI overall. (wrk)