During the regulation launch ceremony on the Ksatria Airlangga Floating Hospital in Labuan Bajo, West Manggarai District, East Nusa Tenggara Province, Minister Sadikin explained that he issued the regulation with the aim of providing people with extended access to health services.
"We, from the Ministry of Health, aim to provide all people with the best and easiest access (to health services). We cannot let everything to be concentrated only in big cities," he remarked.
Health Minister's Regulation No. 33 of 2023 concerning hospital ships constitutes part of the government's efforts to improve the accessibility and quality of health services for people living in remote, disadvantaged, border, outermost, and archipelagic regions.
"Through this legal basis, the government will be able to make interventions and implement programs," he noted.
Sadikin also remarked that the issuance of the regulation will later be followed up by measures to transform health workers' apprenticeship programs as well as formulation of schemes for financing the provision of fuel for hospital ships.
"These services (on hospital ships) can reach more people," he affirmed.
Meanwhile, Head of the Ksatria Airlangga Floating Hospital Dr. Agus Harianto lauded the Health Ministry for its genuine care for mobile health services.
He expressed optimism that implementation of the newly launched regulation would assist parties in operating hospital ships.
"Now, we have a legal basis that helps hospital ships. The government has acknowledged us (hospital ships) as real hospitals. This (regulation) also enables the Health Ministry to provide us with assistance," he pointed out.
The Ksatria Airlangga Floating Hospital has been operational since 2017, and this year, it has set its focus on serving people living in Indonesia's eastern regions, especially the East Nusa Tenggara Province.
In the province, the mobile medical treatment facility has been providing various health services, such as cardiac examination and cataract surgery, to the residents of Labuan Bajo, Nagakeo, Ende, Larantuka, Lembata, Malaka, Kefamenanu, Soe, Oelamasi, Rote, and Sabu Raijua regions.
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Translator: Fransiska M, Tegar Nurfitra
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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