Health is Key to Realizing Vision of Advanced Indonesia: President Jokowi
President Jokowi opens the 2024 National Health Work Meeting, at ICE BSD, Tangerang, Banten, Wednesday (04/24). (Photo by: Public Relations of Cabinet Secretariat /Rahmat)
President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo Wednesday (04/24) opened the 2024 National Health Work Meeting, at the Indonesia Convention and Exhibition (ICE) BSD, Tangerang, Banten.
Before health stakeholders, the President emphasized that health sector is a fundamental component in realizing the vision of an Advanced Indonesia in 2045.
“Health is very important, very essential, very fundamental. And all of you, Ladies and Gentlemen, have a very significant role in creating a healthy society for an advanced Indonesia, for a Golden Indonesia, and this opportunity should not be lost in vain,” said the President, adding that in 2030 Indonesia will have a demographic bonus with 68 percent of its population being at the productive age.
In optimizing the demographic bonus, according to the President, Indonesia is facing a number of problems, one of which is stunting.
“Stunting has reduced from 37.6 percent in 10 years ago to 21.5 percent at the end of last year. It has reduced by almost a half, but we should reach at least 14 percent this year,” the President said.
The President also highlighted the big challenges in overcoming non-communicable diseases such as stroke, heart disease and cancer, all of which are the main causes of death in Indonesia.
“This is our great work. But we know that community health centers have now been provided with laboratory equipment, ultrasound, and ECG (electrocardiogram) to deal as early as possible with the health problems I’ve mentioned earlier,” he said.
The President also highlighted the inadequate health infrastructure in several regions, including hospital facilities and sophisticated medical equipment.
Furthermore, the shortage of doctors is still a big problem in the health sector and the President pushed for its solution.
“Indeed, our biggest problem is the shortage of doctors and specialist doctors. This is our big problem. And please be aware, Ladies and Gentlemen, that our physician’s ratio is still 0.47, ranking 147th in the world. That is our ranking, we have to know. That is what we will strive to improve,” he said.
President Jokowi ordered all development plans in the health sector be integrated and synergistic, both at the central and regional levels.
The master plan in the health sector, which Minister of Health has promised to complete in August, is expected to become a national guideline that will direct Indonesia towards significant progress in the health sector.
“Don’t let the Central Government and regional governments take opposite directions. Everything must be in line, there must be a single direction regarding what to do,” he stressed.
Finally, President Jokowi also highlighted the need to strengthen the domestic health industry. He added that Indonesia still loses about Rp180 trillion per year because many of its citizens choose to seek medical treatment abroad. Furthermore, high dependence on imports of pharmaceutical raw materials and medical devices also becomes a concern.
“Moreover, 90 percent of pharmaceutical production materials are still imported. Then 52 percent of our medical equipment is still dominated by imports,” the President said, emphasizing the need for Indonesia to produce more medical components locally. (TGH/UN) (TM/EP)
