The UPT Vertikal Hospital in Makassar, which is under the central government's auspices, will offer specialist and sub-specialist services for the three highest causes of death in Indonesia, which are cancer, stroke, and heart disease, Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin said here on Tuesday.
The construction of a similar facility was started by the government in Surabaya, East Java, in November 2022.
"This Cerebro, Cardiac, Cancer (OJK) Hospital is being built not only for Makassar city, South Sulawesi, but also as the best-quality health service center for eastern Indonesia," Sadikin said.
The construction of the hospital reflects the Health Ministry's effort toward realizing the second pillar of health transformation, which is increasing access to quality and affordable referral health services for all Indonesians.
According to Sadikin, the wait for referral services for heart disease, stroke, and cancer at several national hospitals can reach 6–8 months.
As a result, more than 600 thousand Indonesians seek treatment abroad every year, spending US$6 billion or equivalent to Rp100 trillion. In 2022, Sadikin said, only 55 districts/cities in Indonesia could conduct the heart ring installation.
This condition can only be resolved by providing hospitals with the best quality and health workers with the best services, the minister added.
Hence, he said, health service facilities and infrastructure at UPT Vertikal Hospital will be maximized according to international standards.
"The goal is for patients to feel safe and comfortable during treatment, so that they no longer need to seek treatment abroad. It will be enough to seek treatment in Indonesia, especially for Indonesians in the eastern region," he said.
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Translator: Andi F, Kenzu
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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