“Bali Medical Kickbacks Exposed: Why Your Ambulance Route Might Be Determined By Driver Commissions, Not Actual Emergencies” – Giostanovlatto
BALI — In most of Indonesia, the word “susuk” conjures images of black magic: tiny metal charms slipped under the skin for wealth, love, or supernatural buffs. Think “dark Javanese aesthetic” meets “get-rich-quick scheme.”
But in Bali, susuk is hilariously mundane—it just means “change” from a cash transaction. Buy a nasi bungkus for Rp7,000, pay with Rp10,000, and voilà: your susuk is Rp3,000. Cute, right?
Until hospitals got creative.
Now, susuk has a sinister new alias: under-the-table kickbacks paid to drivers, touts, or even friendly neighborhood motorbike gangsters for “delivering” patients to certain hospitals. That’s right—human beings as commission-based commodities, traded like bulk orders of babi guling.
If this rumor’s true, it’s not just illegal—it’s a masterclass in moral gymnastics. Imagine: a healthcare system fighting for transparency while staff whisper, “Psst… bring us a broken leg, get 10% cashback!”
Stay tuned. We’re dissecting how Bali’s ERs risk becoming “patient showrooms”—where your pain is someone else’s profit margin.
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DISCLAIMER: WHY WE’RE NOT NAMING NAMES (YET)
Hey Bali has obtained verified evidence—including driver testimonies, WhatsApp screenshots, and transfer receipts—that confirm susuk medis kickbacks are happening at specific private hospitals in Bali.
However, we’ve deliberately redacted the names and logos of these facilities because:
- Not All Private Hospitals Are Guilty
This investigation targets a corrupt system, not Bali’s entire healthcare sector. Many private hospitals operate ethically—and we refuse to tar them with the same brush. - Legal & Ethical Responsibility
Naming institutions without absolute, court-ready proof risks defamation lawsuits that could silence this exposé. We’d rather protect our sources and keep digging. - The Bigger Picture
This isn’t about one bad apple—it’s about a rotten incentive structure that could spread. By exposing the mechanism (not just the players), we push for systemic change.
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“Bali Medical Kickbacks”: How Hospitals Turn Tourists Into Commission-Based Commodities
Forget “patient care”—here’s how Bali’s healthcare system has quietly mastered “patient hunting.” The so-called “susuk medis” (medical kickbacks) scheme operates like a shadow economy, where drivers, hotel staff, and even motorcycle gangs earn Rp125,000 per head for delivering sick tourists to certain private hospitals.
Anatomy of a Kickback: Rp125,000 Per Warm Body
What locals euphemistically call “susuk medis” operates with the clinical precision of a pyramid scheme crossed with food delivery app:
- The Patient Acquisition Phase
- Driver spots tourist clutching stomach (“You go good hospital, my friend!”)
- Strategic ER drop-off (“No, not that public hospital—this nice private one!”)
- Immediate medical theater (white coats swarm patient like they’ve found a VIP)
- The Paperwork Charade
- Security hands driver what looks like a parking voucher—but is actually a kickback invoice requiring:
✓ Driver’s banking details (“For ‘transport reimbursement'”)
✓ Patient’s personal info (“For ‘follow-up care'”)
✓ Vehicle plate number (to prevent “fraud” in this totally legal operation)
- Security hands driver what looks like a parking voucher—but is actually a kickback invoice requiring:
- The Waiting Game
- “Payment processing” takes until the 25th of next month
- Follow-up requires WhatsApp nagging (“Hello sir, my susuk for vomiting Russian tourist?”)
- Bonus feature: No patient survival guarantee required for payout.
Quote from the Ground:
“Ya, Rp125.000 per pasien. Transfer tiap tanggal 25. Tapi harus isi form dulu—kalau nggak diingatkan, ya hilang,” (Yes, Rp125k per patient. Transferred every 25th. But you must fill form first—if you forget, money disappears.) admits Driver M, a veteran in Bali’s patient-referral game.
Why This Isn’t Just “Business as Usual”
- It’s Literally Illegal: Under Indonesian law, kickbacks for patient referrals violate Medical Practice Ethics (Permenkes No. 36/2009) and Anti-Bribery Laws.
- Tourists = ATMs: A vomiting backpacker is worth more as a commission than a human in need. Priorities!
- Organized Crime Vibes: With WhatsApp follow-ups and “friendly security reminders,” this isn’t some back-alley deal—it’s a systemic scam.
🧳Read: 12 Things to Avoid in Bali Unless You Enjoy Explaining Yourself to Local Grandmas
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“Not Just Tour Drivers: How Ride-Hailing Apps Became Bali’s Newest Patient Brokers”
If you thought Bali’s “susuk medis” racket was limited to shady tour van operators, think again. The island’s kickback economy has gone digital—with Ojek Online drivers now moonlighting as commission-based medical recruiters.
The Ojek Online Pipeline: “Your Ride Ends at the ER”
- Hospital security doesn’t discriminate: Whether you arrive via private driver or app-based transport, the “susuk” paperwork is ready.
- No commission cuts: One driver confirmed ride-hailing drivers receive the same Rp125,000 per head—proving hospitals value human referrals more than fair wages.
- Organized collusion?: Whispers of “special partnerships” between hospitals and driver communities suggest this isn’t just opportunistic—it’s by design.
Quote from a Gojek Driver:
“When I dropped off a puking tourist at the ER, security asked: ‘Online or private driver?’ I said Gojek. They still handed me the kickback form.”
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When “Medical Referrals” Become a Gig Economy Side Hustle – Bali Medical Kickbacks
This isn’t just unethical—it’s a legal dumpster fire:
- Patients become profit: A driver’s financial incentive to bypass closer hospitals for “partner” facilities.
- No medical oversight: The person deciding where you get treated has zero medical training—just a vested interest in your hospital bill size.
- A violation of trust: Ride-hailing apps become unwitting accomplices in a scheme that prioritizes kickbacks over care.
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When Money Decides Your Ambulance Route – Bali Medical Kickbacks
“Susuk Medis” Isn’t Just Unethical—It’s Illegal
Bali’s medical kickback scheme violates at least three major Indonesian laws:
📜 Health Law No. 36/2009
- Patients have the right to honest, transparent care—not treatment based on who gets a cut.
- Medical decisions must be need-based, not revenue-optimized.
- Patients are entitled to protection from exploitative practices—like hidden referral fees.
⚖️ Hospital Law No. 44/2009
- Hospitals cannot profit from undisclosed financial arrangements.
- Conflict of interest (e.g., paying drivers for patients) is strictly prohibited.
The Dirty Math of “Susuk”
- Rp125,000 per patient = ~10% of an average ER visit fee
- Source of funds? Likely bundled into patient bills as hidden costs.
- Outcome? A system where your sickness is someone else’s sales quota.
Why This Matters
- Tourists unknowingly pay for kickbacks via inflated medical bills.
- Drivers become unlicensed triage agents, steering patients based on profit.
- Hospitals commit fraud while pretending it’s a “referral program.”
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When Kickbacks Steer Ambulances: How Bali’s Healthcare Became a Pay-to-Play Game
Imagine this: You’re vomiting from Bali Belly, bleeding from a scooter crash, or collapsing from heatstroke. But the person deciding where you get treated isn’t a doctor—it’s a Ojek driver with a financial stake in your pain.
Welcome to “susuk medis”, where emergency medicine runs on referral commissions, and your survival instinct is someone else’s side hustle.
Conflict of Interest? More Like Conflict of Survival – Bali Medical Kickbacks
When drivers choose hospitals based on kickbacks, not competence, the fallout is catastrophic:
- Tourists with fractures get hauled past competent clinics to far-flung hospitals paying Rp125k per head.
- Dehydrated patients lose golden hours in traffic because the “right” ER pays better.
- Every medical decision becomes a question: “Is this care… or commerce?”
Real Cases We Uncovered:
- A Bali Belly victim was driven 1 hour through Denpasar traffic (past 3 clinics) to a hospital with a “verified susuk program.”
- A bleeding tourist in Ubud was taken 40km away from a nearby clinic because the driver “had a deal” with a Kuta hospital.
“It’s not our job to judge hospitals,” admits a driver. “Our job is to get the commission.”
The Domino Effect: Why This Isn’t Just a ‘Little Corruption’ – Bali Medical Kickbacks
1. Trust in Bali’s Healthcare Implodes
- Tourists start viewing all medical care as a “scam.”
- Health platforms like TravelSafe flag Bali as “high-risk for exploitative treatment.”
2. Legal Time Bomb
- If a patient dies en route to a faraway hospital, who’s liable?
- The driver (“Just following orders”)?
- The hospital (“We never officially promised kickbacks”)?
- The government (“We didn’t know… until now”)?
3. Medical Ethics Thrown in the Trash
- Doctors become unwitting pawns in a profit chain.
- Nurses treat patients who were bought, not triaged.
The Ugly Truth: This Isn’t a ‘Victimless Crime’
| What They Claim | The Reality |
| “It’s just a referral program!” | A kickback scheme hiding behind paperwork. |
| “Drivers help tourists find care!” | Drivers help themselves to Rp125k per tourist / patient. |
| “No one gets hurt!” | Patients pay inflated bills for unnecessary detours. |
Worst-Case Scenario: A critical patient dies because a driver skipped the nearest ER for a commission-paying hospital. Suddenly, “susuk medis” isn’t just unethical—it’s manslaughter.
🧳Read: Bali eSIM Problems? The Dirty Truth No One Tells You
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How to Fix This Before Bali’s Health System Becomes a Meme
- Hospitals: Publicly ban kickbacks and audit referral programs.
- Platforms (Gojek/Grab): Suspend drivers caught selling patients.
- Tourists: Ask “Why this hospital?” and demand nearest ER care.
- Government: Raid hospitals requesting driver bank details post-drop-off.
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Final Word Bali Medical Kickbacks: Your Pain Shouldn’t Be a Paycheck
Bali’s healthcare is at a crossroads: Will it heal—or keep monetizing misery? If susuk medis isn’t crushed now, we’re one viral “Death by Kickback” headline away from becoming the world’s medical tourism punchline.
Hey Bali’s Call to Action:
- Tourists: Film suspicious driver-hospital handoffs.
- Locals: Report “susuk” offers to @KemenkesRI.
- Everyone: Share this article. Shame this scam out of existence.
🚨 EDITOR’S NOTE: This investigation is based on months of undercover work—verified driver testimonies, smoking-gun WhatsApp receipts, and forensic tracking of those suspicious “25th of the month” transfers—all deliberately anonymized to protect sources while exposing Bali’s dirty “medical kickback” system. We’re not here to vilify ethical hospitals, but to sound the alarm before this rot spreads: because when ER decisions get auctioned to the highest bidder, we all lose. – HEY BALI (Drop the mic, keep the receipts).
A WARNING TO THE INDUSTRY
To the hospitals running susuk medis: We know who you are.
To the hospitals staying clean: Call this out before it infects your reputation too.
Silence is complicity.
— Giostanovlatto HEY BALI
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Meet the Author
Giostanovlatto is a self-proclaimed “professional wanderluster” who believes that life is too short to stay in one place. When he’s not busy chasing sunsets or hunting for the best local food, you can find him striking up conversations with strangers (who often become friends by the end of the trip).
