It (preventing the people from falling sick) is the main task of the health sector and not curing the patients.Jakarta (ANTARA) - Health transformation, as the government's priority program, focuses on preventing Indonesian people from ailing from diseases so as to ensure good health and quality life, Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin stated.
"It (preventing Indonesian people from falling sick) is conducted by intensifying health checks at the puskesmas (community health centers) and posyandu (integrated health posts), as well as involving the public in maintaining (community) health," he remarked at a media briefing, here, on Saturday.
The minister emphasized that taking preventive measures cost less than treating the disease.
One of the government’s focus areas in implementing health transformation is expediting primary care transformation by gradually providing complete health facilities at puskesmas and improving the concept of primary care.
"It (primary care transformation) is (conducted through) promotive and preventive (health attempts), not secondary or referral services,” the minister explained.
Sadikin noted that the central and local governments continually strove to maintain public health.
“It (preventing the people from falling sick) is the main task of the health sector and not curing the patients," he remarked.
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The minister noted that Indonesia currently only had 10 thousand puskesmas and were inadequate to serve all people in Indonesia, so they still needed assistance from village health posts, or poskesdes.
To this end, the Health Ministry is planning to combine the implementation of primary services at puskesmas, poskesdes, and village maternity centers (polindes) into one health center called Posyandu Prima (prime posyandu).
"In future, primary health services will be able to serve all ages, from infants to the elderly. Hence, (health) preventive measures can be carried out for all ages," Sadikin stated.
Recently, his side began exploring remote areas, such as in North Nias District, North Sumatra Province, that need assistance to improve their basic health services.
The district only has 11 puskesmas, eight of which are in remote locations, while the rest are located in very remote locations.
Meanwhile, other forms of health transformation are being conducted on the referral or hospital service system, health resilience system, health financing system, health human resources, and health technology transformation.
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Translator: Hreeloita Shanti, Uyu Liman
Editor: Yuni Arisandy Sinaga
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