"Amid the pandemic, fundamental reforms in the health sector must be accelerated. Disease prevention and a healthy lifestyle must be our top priority," President Jokowi emphasized.
The president delivered the statement at the annual session of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) and joint session of the House of Representatives (DPR) and the Regional Representatives Council (DPD) on the occasion of the 75th anniversary of the proclamation of independence of the Republic of Indonesia held in Jakarta, Friday.
President Jokowi reiterated the need to bring about a massive improvement in the resilience and capacity of national health services.
"We must also continually strengthen the capacity of our human resources and develop hospitals and health centers as well as medicine and medical equipment industry," he stated.
On the occasion, the president also commended all medical officers and relevant stakeholders for the extraordinary measures taken in treating patients and preventing deaths in fighting the spread of COVID-19.
"On behalf of the people, nation, and state, I would like to express my gratitude and highly laud doctors and nurses as well as health workers at hospitals, laboratories, health clinics, and isolation rooms, as well as community leaders, volunteers, journalists, personnel of the Indonesian National Defense Forces (TNI) and the Indonesian National Police (Polri) and civil servants at the central government and regional governments," he noted.
In addition to encouraging health sector reform, President Jokowi invited Indonesians to undertake fundamental reforms in their way of working.
"We must undertake fundamental reforms in the way we work. Our readiness and speed are being tested," he stated.
The head of state highlighted that the COVID-19 crisis had brought about a change in the manner of working, right from standard to outstanding ways, from ordinary to extraordinary ways, from a long-drawn and complicated procedure to a smart shortcut, and from being procedure-oriented to being result-oriented.
"We have to provide hospitals, isolation rooms, medicines, and medical equipment, as well as uphold discipline in following health protocols. Everything must be done quickly in a very short period of time," Jokowi added. Related news: Indonesia should make huge leaps by working around crisis: Jokowi
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Reporter: Yuni Arisandy Sinaga
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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