"The president wants foreign hospitals to operate in Indonesia, to invest here, in order to prioritize the health of the people," he told the press after meeting with Commission IX of the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR RI) at the Parliament Complex in Jakarta on Wednesday (July 16).
Sadikin pointed out that several Indonesians travel abroad to access healthcare services, incurring higher costs. Hence, he supports the idea of granting permission for foreign hospitals to invest and establish branches in Indonesia as an important step toward facilitating access to quality and affordable healthcare.
Moreover, the minister noted that the presence of foreign hospitals in Indonesia would also create more employment opportunities for domestic healthcare workers.
"Foreign hospitals operating in Indonesia will involve local healthcare workers. That will create jobs for hundreds of thousands of our healthcare workers," Sadikin remarked.
Earlier, President Prabowo announced that the Indonesian government is opening the healthcare sector to foreign participation, including allowing foreign hospitals and clinics to open branches in Indonesia.
This statement was made during a meeting with the President of the European Council, António Costa, in Brussels on July 13.
This policy is part of the government's strategy over the past two years to boost foreign involvement in various strategic sectors.
"In the past two years, we have allowed foreign participation in many sectors, and now, we are doing the same in healthcare. Any health institution abroad can open a branch in Indonesia. We have allowed foreign hospitals to open in Indonesia," the president told Costa in Brussels.
President Prabowo further added that if the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) between Indonesia and the European Union is signed, European hospitals would also have the opportunity to open in Indonesia.
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Translator: Tri Meilani A, Resinta Sulistiyandari
Editor: Primayanti
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