Share the article
Bali officials are strengthening the Mpox screening process for all international arrivals at I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport.
In recent weeks, Indonesia has introduced new screening measures, including arrival forms and thermal imaging cameras, and now requires tourists to download the Ministry of Health’s smartphone app.
On August 18, the Ministry of Health’s Acting Director-General for Disease Prevention and Control, Yudhi Pramono, released a statement confirming that all international arrivals at all Indonesian airports would be required to complete a questionnaire to be handed in at their arrival terminal.
This was in response to statements by the World Health Organization, which declared the recent outbreaks of smallpox an international health emergency.
On August 21, Bali Airport General Manager Handy Heryudhitiawan confirmed that he had instructed biosecurity teams to install thermal imaging cameras in Bali Airport’s arrival terminals to more easily detect passengers with elevated temperature, a possible early symptom of Mpox.
Heryudhitiawan assured passengers that this was a preventive measure and that the thermal imaging screening was not aimed at travelers from specific destination countries or from specific population groups.
The Ministry of Transport (Kemenhub) has confirmed that using the SatuSehat app is now a travel requirement for travelers from abroad. Sahu means one and Sehat means health.
This is the same government health monitoring app that was used in the months following the reopening of borders during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Directorate General of Air Transport of the Indonesian Ministry of Transport has issued Circular No. SE 5 DJPU Year 2024 on the use of the SATUSEHAT Health Pass for overseas travelers, valid from August 27, 2024.
In a written statement released on Wednesday, August 28, Director General of Aviation M. Kristi Endah Murni explained: “The provision of SE 5 DJPU in 2024 is a guide for air transport companies and foreign air carriers to require every person (flight crew and passengers) of foreign travelers flying to Indonesia to complete an electronic self-declaration form called SATUSEHAT Health Pass, and a guide for international airport operators to take measures to prevent and manage the transmission of Mpox disease at the airport.”
He added: “I have instructed the Director of Aviation Safety and the Head of Airport Authority to oversee the implementation of the circular. All parties must be able to carry out the work with full responsibility.”
The app can be downloaded from the Apple App Store or the Google Store for Android users. The app is available in English.
Murni has issued further guidelines for the aviation and travel industries across Indonesia to prevent the spread of the virus in the country.
This guidance contains instructions to “advise all persons (airline crew and passengers) traveling abroad and flying to Indonesia to complete the SATUSEHAT Health Pass electronic self-declaration form under the domain https://sshp.kemkes.go.id.”
The circular also stresses that airport and airline staff must supervise tourists by “completing the SATUSEHAT Health Pass electronic self-declaration form for each person (airline staff and passengers) travelling abroad, which will be done at the airport of departure.”
The third and fourth instructions are aimed at healthcare professionals and tour operators, but are worthy of note.
Authorities have instructed that they must “coordinate with the Health Quarantine Center if there is a problem in completing the SATUSEHAT Health Pass electronic self-declaration form at the destination airport; and coordinate with the Health Quarantine Center as part of efforts to prevent the transmission of Mpox disease in Indonesia.”
The Mpox screening measures for tourists visiting Bali are being implemented particularly quickly as the province prepares to host the 2024 Indonesia-Africa Forum from September 1 to 3.
In a separate statement, Deputy Health Minister Dante Saksono Harbuwono explained that the health screening measures are a method to ensure that everything continues to run smoothly for tourists and local communities in the province.
He explained that there are plans for all eventualities. Harbuwono shared, “We and the Health Quarantine Center have set the screening scenario, starting from the provision of screening tools, the PCR swab testing room and questionnaires to the referral process to hospitals.”
He added: “According to the scenario we applied and tried to simulate today, we have determined the place where the swab test will be carried out, where the thermal scanner will be installed and where the questionnaire will be so that everyone can be correctly identified and other passengers will not be disturbed.”