"We will conduct an exchange of HR and expertise between these organizations," Indonesian Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin remarked after the signing ceremony in Jakarta on Monday.
Sadikin highlighted that several universities from Indonesia and Saudi companies would be involved in the HR exchange program.
The several universities in question are Gadjah Mada University (UGM), Muhammadiyah University of Yogyakarta (UMY), and Nahdlatul Ulama University of Surabaya (UNUSA).
Meanwhile, the Saudi Arabian firm involved in the program is the Health Holding Company.
Sadikin is optimistic that this collaboration would support knowledge transfer for doctors and nurses who will receive training in Saudi Arabia.
"We need this program to improve our education standards and health service from Saudi Arabia," the minister stressed.
Furthermore, the two nations will collaborate on exchanging digital vaccine certificates to enhance Umrah and Hajj services for pilgrims from Indonesia.
Sadikin emphasized that this cooperation is crucial, as it addresses the lengthy queues at immigration checkpoints where vaccine certificates for prospective Hajj and Umrah pilgrims are verified.
Regarding vaccine cooperation, he announced that Saudi Arabian Health Minister Fahd Abdulrahman Al-Jalajel would visit Biofarma to assess Indonesia's vaccine production capabilities.
The visit is grounded in the mutual belief that vaccine production should be evenly distributed among developing countries, including in Africa, East Asia, the Middle East, Indonesia, South Asia, and South America.
"In the event of another pandemic, we will have enough space to produce vaccines for eight billion people," Sadikin affirmed.
Meanwhile, Minister Fahd Abdulrahman Al-Jalajel stated that in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's Vision for 2030, his side is keen to provide services more effectively and efficiently.
"In this visit, health companies are present with us, and they have signed four agreements. These agreements are related to manpower and training for better manpower in both countries," he noted.
He expects more cooperation in the future, in addition to the planned cooperation agreement with Biofarma, which will be implemented on February 25.
Earlier, the Indonesian Ministry of Health and the King Salman Center for Humanitarian and Social Assistance (KS Relief) collaborated to carry out 38 operations for congenital heart disease cases.
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Translator: Katriana, Resinta Sulistiyandari
Editor: Arie Novarina
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