We need to enhance it toward a more formal and mutual cooperation, with our close bilateral relations."Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Indonesia and Japan have agreed to enhance bilateral cooperation in health services and human resource development, Indonesias Health Minister Nila Moeloek said.
"We need to enhance it toward a more formal and mutual cooperation, with our close bilateral relations," Moeloek said in a statement here, Sunday (July 16).
Moeloek and Japanese Health, Manpower and Welfare affairs Minister Yasuhisa Shiozaki have agreed to exchange expertise, experience and programs to improve health services.
The two ministers held bilateral meeting on the sideline of ASEAN-Japan Health Ministers Meeting on Universal Health Coverage and Population Ageing on July 14-15 in Tokyo, Japan.
Currently, Indonesia and Japan has a wide range bilateral cooperation under the Indonesia-Japan Economic Partnership (I-JEPA) as well as the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).
The cooperation includes exchange of experts, research, and human resource development in health sector.
Under the I-JEPA, 593 nurses and 1,199 care givers have been trained in Japan and worked for some hospitals and nursing homes in the country.
Every year, Japan has provided training for 500 Indonesian nurses in the country.
Moeloek said, the government would need to further explore the opportunities to increase cooperation in paramedics recruitment, human resource development, health services, health information technology and disease prevention.
The cooperation, she said, is expected to open more chances for Indonesian nurses to participate in the training and to work in Japan, and to increase the number of Indonesian health expert studying in Japan.
Both ministers have expressed hope for the cooperation agreement to be signed during the next bilateral meeting.
(Reported by Aditya Ramadhan/Uu.S022/B003)
Editor: Priyambodo RH
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