Padang, W Sumatra (ANTARA) - President Prabowo Subianto’s directive to increase the number of doctors is aimed at strengthening Indonesia’s national health system, a senior official has said.

However, the quality of doctors must not be compromised in the effort to increase their numbers, emphasized Khairul Munadi, Director General of Higher Education at the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, and Technology, on Friday.

To support this goal, the ministry will form a task force and work closely with the Ministry of Health and the Indonesian Medical Education Association (AIPKI) to expand the country’s medical workforce.

Universities with strong or well-established medical faculties will be asked to mentor those at newer or less-developed institutions, including newly established medical schools.

“We hope this collaboration and partnership will accelerate efforts to meet Indonesia’s need for more doctors,” Munadi said.

He added that the ministry is also working to deregulate outdated policies, following President Prabowo’s call to ensure that the creation of new medical faculties is not hindered by obsolete regulations.

The deregulation process will include reviewing and simplifying accreditation requirements—without compromising educational quality.

Earlier this week, the president instructed both the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Higher Education to establish new medical faculties and increase the number of doctors nationwide.

He made the statement while inaugurating the Sanur Health Special Economic Zone (SEZ) and Bali International Hospital (BIH) in Denpasar, Bali, on Wednesday.

Prabowo emphasized the importance of providing high-quality healthcare services for all citizens, which he said requires ensuring a sufficient doctor-to-population ratio.

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