Remarks of President of the Republic of Indonesia During the Inauguration of Tzu Chi Hospital, Pantai Indah Kapuk, North Jakarta, Special Capital Region of Jakarta Province, June 14, 2023

Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen,

Good morning.

I have just visited treatment facilities, be it for cancer treatment, thalassemia, or bone marrow transplant. I saw exceptionally modern equipment and devices. This hospital, I really appreciate the construction of this hospital, with a capacity of 576 rooms and has state-of-the-art facilities, infrastructure, and cutting-edge medical equipment.

I want everyone to be healthy. Nevertheless, when you get sick, please do not seek medical treatment abroad. Just visit Tzu Chi Hospital. We know that nearly one million Indonesian citizens seek medical treatment abroad each year. And we lose US$11.5 billion in foreign exchange or Rp170 trillion since our people prefer to seek medical treatment abroad.

Please stop that now. You can visit Tzu Chi Hospital. You no longer need to go to Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, or Japan. Local doctors are just as smart as doctor in those countries. We lose to the advanced medical equipment only. Therefore, Tzu Chi Hospital already provides that advanced medical equipment for us. I hope [our healthcare services] can compete and our people prefer to seek medical treatment at home so we do not lose Rp170 trillion per year just for medical treatment.

And 60 percent of people seeking medical treatment abroad are from Jakarta. 60 percent of Jakarta residents went abroad for medical treatment. Well, many residents of Jakarta are wealthy. But now, please do not take your money out of the country, do not create capital outflows. Surabaya residents are 15 percent, and the rest is from Medan and Batam, but mostly, 60 percent are from Jakarta. Nevertheless, the most important thing is that you should stay healthy.

Why do they go abroad? Most of them went to seek medical treatment for oncology and cancer since the medical equipment here is considered to be of poor quality. Orthopedic treatment, this concerns bones, joints, and muscles. Dental, is it necessary to go abroad for dental care? And, mostly for women, beauty care and aesthetic surgery. Beauty care and aesthetic surgery mean that people prefer to go abroad for plastic surgery.

So once again, I really appreciate the construction of Tzu Chi Hospital. I hope, once again, our citizens no longer seek medical treatment overseas.

And, by the grace of God Almighty, I hereby I inaugurated Tzu Chi Hospital in Special Capital Region of Jakarta Province this morning.

I thank you.

(GWH/MMB)