JEC-Orbita Eye Hospital @ Makassar Officially Opens

Mayor Pomanto highlighted the importance of specialized healthcare facilities in strengthening Makassar’s role as a regional health hub. “With JEC ORBITA @ Makassar, residents no longer have to travel far for advanced eye care. This hospital will improve the quality of life for our community and support healthy vision for generations to come” he said.

Designed as a state-of-the-art eye care center, JEC-Orbita Makassar provides integrated services under one roof. This one-stop solution ensures patients receive complete eye care without the need for referrals to other facilities. “Our goal is to make advanced eye care accessible and convenient, not only for Makassar and South Sulawesi but for the wider Eastern Indonesia region” said DR. Dr. Habibah S. Muhiddin, CEO of PT Orbita Medika Indonesia.

Eye health in South Sulawesi remains a critical issue. According to the Ministry of Health, the prevalence of blindness among residents aged 50 and above is around 2.6%, slightly below the national average of 3%. PERDAMI reports that 333,600 Indonesians experience blindness each year, with 9,463 cases occurring in South Sulawesi alone. Over the past three years, JEC-Orbita Makassar has treated approximately 14,000 cataract patients.

“Many vision problems can be prevented or treated, especially cataracts. Regular eye examinations are crucial for early detection, and our advanced technology and experienced medical team are ready to help the community maintain healthy vision,” emphasized Dr. Mirella Afifudin, Director of JEC-Orbita Makassar.

The hospital provides comprehensive services, including:

• Cataract and Refractive Surgery
• Cornea Treatment
• Vitreo-Retina Care
• Glaucoma Management
• Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus Center
• Cosmetic and Reconstructive Eye Surgery
• Neuro-Ophthalmology
• Low Vision Prosthetics
• Myopia Control Programs
• Makassar Eye Bank
• Diabetes Eye Care

Its Contact Lens Service and Dry Eye Center are the first in South Sulawesi, and the hospital remains the only one in Eastern Indonesia to offer LASIK and ReLEx SMILE technology.

Staffing the hospital are 41 ophthalmologists, 66 medical professionals, and 34 non-medical personnel. JEC-Orbita Makassar also uses a secure e-medical record (e-MR) system, allowing patients to access records online and continue care seamlessly across all JEC branches.

The hospital features 16 inpatient beds across VVIP, VIP, Class 1 and 2, and KRIS rooms, alongside isolation facilities and a 24-hour emergency department. Supporting specialists include internal medicine, radiology, anesthesiology, pathology, general practice, and nutrition. Strategically located at Jl. Mesjid Raya No. 75, Timungan Lompoa, Bontoala, Makassar, the 10-story building spans 8,500 m² on a 1,400 m² site.

In conjunction with the opening, JEC-Orbita Makassar is offering free cataract surgery for 100 patients in need, continuing the Bakti Katarak JEC social initiative, which improves access to essential eye care.

Prof. Dr. Tjahjono D. Gondhowiardjo, Director of Development and Education at JEC, stated: “Providing international-standard clinical services is part of our mission to improve vision and quality of life in Indonesia. With JEC-Orbita Makassar, residents in Eastern Indonesia no longer need to travel far or abroad to receive advanced eye care.”

Currently, JEC Eye Hospitals and Clinics operates five hospitals and ten main eye clinics across Indonesia. This expansion strengthens JEC’s commitment to delivering superior patient experiences while continuously developing the skills of its medical and support staff to maintain leadership in eye care for decades to come.