"Do not let the procurement of health equipment go to waste because we do not have enough specialist doctors," the president stated at the inauguration of the Teaching Hospital-Based Specialist Doctor Education Program (RSP-PU) at RSAB Harapan Kita here on Monday.
The president highlighted the shortage of doctors and specialist doctors as the biggest problem in the health sector in Indonesia.
Jokowi pointed out that the ratio of doctors in Indonesia is still around 0.47 per 1,000 population, while the World Health Organization (WHO) requires every country to have a doctor ratio of 1 per 1,000 population.
The head of state explained that the procurement and distribution of medical equipment to all regions in Indonesia had gone well and would continue into the next government.
"In the past six months, every time I visit the region, I checked the health equipment at the local hospital and the community health center. I am happy that such ultrasound equipment is already available at the health center," he said.
The district and city as well as provincial hospitals have also been equipped with Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), mammograms, and cath labs to support the treatment of chronic diseases, he noted.
"But the complaint arises, saying that we do not have enough specialist doctors. This has become our homework," he said.
In dealing with the issue of lack of doctors and specialist doctors in Indonesia, the president emphasized that breakthroughs are deemed necessary, including by mobilizing 24 medical faculties in Indonesia and 420 government hospitals designated as teaching hospitals to produce more doctors.
He also encouraged the distribution of medical equipment to all regions to be continued by the next government to prepare for Indonesia's demographic bonus that is estimated to occur in the next 10-15 years.
"I hope MRIs, mammograms, and ultrasound equipment can be distributed equally in the next presidential administration," he stated.
Related news: Jokowi underscores need for more specialist doctors from universities
Related news: Ministry introduces programs to address specialist doctor shortage
Translator: Yashinta Difa P, Resinta Sulistiyandari
Editor: Tia Mutiasari
Copyright © ANTARA 2024
