In a statement issued on Thursday, Deputy Health Minister Benjamin P. Oktavianus said the first agenda focuses on transforming primary healthcare services by expanding access to community health centers (Puskesmas) and strengthening promotive-preventive measures at the community level.
The second agenda, he continued, involves transforming referral services by developing an efficient and equitable hospital network across all regions.
The third concerns strengthening the national health resilience system to increase capacity in responding to health crises, including pandemics and natural disasters.
"In the future, Indonesia's healthcare system must be more equitable, robust, and sustainable. The role of academics and researchers is crucial in supporting this transformation," Oktavianus said.
He made the remarks during the 2nd International Conference on Safety and Public Health at Hasanuddin University (Unhas) in Makassar, South Sulawesi.
He highlighted the government's achievement in providing free health check-ups to more than 41 million people, supported by over 10,000 Puskesmas nationwide.
"We hope that research collaborations like the one conducted by Unhas can strengthen the national health system and drive change toward a healthy and prosperous Indonesia," he added.
Unhas Chancellor Jamaluddin Jompa reaffirmed the university's commitment to supporting government efforts to strengthen the health system and improve quality of life.
He said Unhas continues to develop thematic research groups focused on health policy and public health, producing recommendations that can be directly applied to improve community well-being.
Jompa also emphasized the importance of health research in the maritime sector, noting that Indonesia’s identity as an archipelagic nation requires attention to the well-being of maritime workers.
"We are a maritime nation, but only a few know how to dive. Public health, especially for fishermen, is very important to consider," he said.
"I hope there will be concrete and sustainable steps to protect the health of maritime workers, as they are the frontline safeguarding the nation's maritime resources," he added.
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Translator: Abdul Kadir, Katriana
Editor: Anton Santoso
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