Falling ill or having an accident in Bali? Good care is available, especially in the private, international hospitals in the south. The key thing is to have good travel insurance. The below is general information; always follow the instructions of medical staff and your insurer.
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Add it in the trip planner →For minor complaints you can go to a pharmacy (apotek) — pharmacists often give advice and many medicines are available without prescription. At the doctor or clinic you usually pay on the spot (cash or credit card) and claim back afterwards from your insurance, or the clinic arranges a payment guarantee via your insurer. Always keep your receipts and the medical report.
Tourists usually go to the private international hospitals/clinics in the south (around Kuta, Denpasar and Nusa Dua), such as BIMC, Siloam and Kasih Ibu. These are English-speaking, have good facilities and often work with travel insurers. Public hospitals are cheaper but busier and less geared to tourists. For serious cases, repatriation or referral (e.g. to Singapore) may be needed — your insurance coordinates this.
There are pharmacies (apotek) everywhere, including large chains. Bring your own travel medical kit (painkiller, ORS, anti-diarrhoea medicine, plasters, your own medication with a doctor's note). See also our guide to Bali belly.
The best-equipped care is in the south, where several private international-standard hospitals are used to treating travellers and speak English — names like BIMC (Kuta and Nusa Dua), Siloam and Kasih Ibu. For minor problems there are plenty of walk-in clinics in the tourist areas, and your hotel can usually call a doctor to your room. In remote areas (the islands, the far east and north) facilities are basic, so anything serious means a transfer south — another reason evacuation cover matters.
Pharmacies (apotek) are everywhere and well stocked; many common medicines are available over the counter and pharmacists often speak some English. For the usual traveller's complaints — "Bali belly", cuts that need cleaning, sunburn, insect bites — a pharmacy or clinic is quick and cheap. Clean and disinfect even small wounds promptly, as they can infect fast in the tropics.
Private hospitals expect payment or an insurance guarantee up front, sometimes a substantial deposit, so carry your policy details and your insurer's 24-hour assistance number. Keep all receipts and reports for your claim, and call your insurer early — they can direct you to an approved hospital and arrange direct billing or, if needed, medical evacuation.