Director for health human resources at the ministry, Yuli Farianti, said here on Tuesday that the target is higher than in the previous years, when Indonesia sent at least 200 nurses annually.
The higher target is driven by young nurses' interest, who have been motivated to work in Japan by looking at their seniors, she added.
"Since 2020, Japan has opened up opportunities for nurses and caregivers. Currently, we see that the number of our nurses is at 102.16 percent, (thus Japan's needs) can be met by our national production," Farianti informed.
She said that every year, 30 thousand nurses graduate across Indonesia—9 thousand of them from the ministry's 38 polytechnics.
Moreover, of the 1.274 graduates sent overseas during the 2019–2024 period, at least 863 were sent to Japan.
"As a concrete form of support, the Health Ministry and the Mie Prefecture government signed a memorandum of understanding on July 30, 2024, which entails Indonesian health personnel's skills improvement, so they can be certified nurses and caregivers who meet Japanese standards," she said.
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Farianti highlighted the necessity of such adjustments, given some challenges such as differences in language and culture, as well as stressful workloads.
She further said that it is possible for the nurses to reach further heights in their career, for instance, by becoming specialist nurses who excel in treating catastrophic diseases such as cancer, heart disease, stroke, and uronephrology issues.
On the same occasion, Mie Prefecture Governor Ichimi Katsuyuki said that the elderly population in the prefecture is above 30 percent, higher than the national average of 29 percent.
About 3–4 years ago, the region recorded the highest lifespan ever, he said, adding that one reason for the record was a stress-free life.
Katsuyuki said that nursing is a highly respected profession in Japan, therefore, the government supports it by offering competitive salaries. Moreover, he highlighted the opportunity for Indonesian nurses to stay in Japan as permanent residents once they meet some requirements.
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Reporter: Mecca Yumna Ning Prisie
Editor: Yuni Arisandy Sinaga
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