President Prabowo Affirms Commitment to Improving National Healthcare Service

President Prabowo Subianto visits Integrated Service Building and National Neuroscience Institute of National Brain Center Hospital Mahar Mardjono, Jakarta, Tuesday (08/26). (Photo by: BPMI of Presidential Secretariat)

President Prabowo Subianto affirmed the Government’s commitment to improving the quality of national healthcare service by constructing hospital infrastructure, increasing the number of medical faculties, and generating health workforce as fast as possible, particularly specialist doctors. The President stated that Indonesia faces serious challenges in the availability of healthcare professionals.

“We are facing obstacles. Our nation is vast. The world is also facing a shortage of doctors, specialists, and paramedics. We must use all our capabilities to achieve our goal, which is to provide the best healthcare service for all Indonesians,” said President Prabowo on Tuesday (08/26) in his remarks at the inauguration of Integrated Service Building and National Neuroscience Institute of National Brain Center Hospital (RSPON) Mahar Mardjono in Jakarta.

President Prabowo also noted that education and healthcare are fundamental rights of the people as well as a true manifestation of democracy. Therefore, he stressed the importance of good governance in the health sector.
“The best education and healthcare can only be achieved if there is no corruption, no manipulation, and no leakages. Every rupiah spent on purchasing the world’s best medical equipment must reach the people,” the President emphasized.

On that occasion, President Prabowo also revealed that Indonesia still lacks around 70,000 specialist doctors, while the annual number of specialist graduates is about 2,700. He stressed that if this situation persists, it would take up to 35 years to meet the shortage. Therefore, extraordinary measures are required; no longer a business-as-usual approach.

“Therefore, we must take real actions. In pursuing Indonesia’s development and our people’s welfare, it cannot be business as usual. We have to work harder, we have to do our best,” the President stated.

The Government has also set a target to build 500 high-quality hospitals across all regencies within the next four years. They also prepare to launch 148 new study programs in 57 medical faculties, including specialties and subspecialties.

“My target is to establish 30 new medical faculties, InshaAllah, to help meet the shortage of 70,000 specialists and 140,000 general practitioners. Otherwise, we would have to wait 35 years,” the President explained.
With all the visions, President Prabowo showed optimism that Indonesia will pursue better healthcare service. “Deep in our hearts with goodwill, InshaAllah, we will achieve it. We have the resources, we have to manage our resources,” the President concluded.

(BPMI of Presidential Secretariat) (RD/MMB)