Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin stated that his side plans to build a special hospital for handling cardiovascular, cancer, and stroke cases, as these types of diseases need immediate treatment.
"Our plan is to build a hospital apart from the existing Wahidin Hospital. A special hospital for cardiovascular, cancer and stroke management, because those diseases must be treated quickly, so people do not have to go to Jakarta to get medical treatment," he noted on Tuesday.
To this end, the Ministry of Health has also reviewed several locations in Makassar, as prospective sites for the special hospital. One of these locations is in the Center Point of Indonesia (CPI) area.
Minister Sadikin also reviewed the implementation of COVID-19 vaccination at the Dadi Makassar Regional Special Hospital owned by the South Sulawesi provincial government.
This hospital is also referred as an alternative for the heart hospital. However, Sadikin could not confirm as yet which is the most appropriate location.
"This is one alternative, and we are still looking at which one is the most suitable. It has to be easily accessible," Sadikin affirmed.
The minister explained that a special hospital was being built in South Sulawesi to bring health services closer to all levels of Indonesian society, especially in the eastern part of Indonesia.
Sadikin was visibly impressed by the history of Dadi Makassar Hospital as the first hospital to be built in Makassar even before the Wahidin Sudirohusodo Hospital.
"We are optimistic that access to health services for the people will become closer and easier. They do not have to be referred to Jakarta. That is why we have to develop more special hospitals, so that people in the eastern region can receive the same services as those offered in Jakarta," he added.
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Translator: Nur Suhra, Resinta S
Editor: Sri Haryati
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