What about laboratories? How many do we have? How are the equipment, human resources, and capabilities? All parameters must be calculated since we fully comprehend the importance of health security in future. The COVID pandemic has made us realize ho
Jakarta (ANTARA) - President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) has drawn attention to the scarcity of beds at Indonesian hospitals, at only 1.2 per thousand people.

The head of state compared Indonesia’s hospital bed to population ratio with that of India, at 2.7 per 1000; China, 4.3 per 1000; and Japan, 13 per 1000.

The COVID-19 pandemic necessitates evaluation of all health-related aspects, for instance, matters related to the Indonesian health sector’s resilience, the president noted in his opening remarks at the 2020 National Development Planning Consultation (Musrenbangnas) held through videoconferencing from the Merdeka Palace here, Thursday.

"What about laboratories? How many do we have? How are the equipment, human resources, and capabilities? All parameters must be calculated since we fully comprehend the importance of health security in future. The COVID pandemic has made us realize how important it is," Jokowi remarked.

Several problems are bogging down the country at present and will continue to weigh heavy in the next several years, and they must be resolved, he emphasized.

"As an example of what is happening in the health sector, the pharmaceutical industry is still importing raw materials, with 95 percent still being imported," the president pointed out.

The head of state has called on the public to be sentient of the availability of medical devices and medical personnel, including the ratio of doctors, specialist doctors, and nurses in facing the current pandemic situation.

Jokowi highlighted that the country’s health sector was also encumbered by various problems.

"A host of dangerous diseases, such as tuberculosis, necessitate special handling. Hence, what is the availability of our hospitals? Are sufficient beds available? For instance, with regard to TB, Indonesia ranked as the third-highest TB burden country. The TB burden largely falls on the three countries of India, China, and Indonesia," he pointed out.

Participants in the virtual consultation meeting this year comprised regional heads from across Indonesia. Related news: Jokowi believes Indonesia would recover from COVID-19 pandemic in 2021
Related news: Ministry confirms 17 foreigners succumbed to COVID-19 in Indonesia



Translator: Hanni Sofia, Fardah
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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