Foreign Hospitals Entering Indonesia Must Absorb Local Health Workers

Minister of Health (Menkes) Budi Gunadi Sadikin said hospitals (RS) from abroad that open branches or operate in Indonesia will be filled by local health workers (nakes).

"It must be (health workers from Indonesia)," Budi told reporters at the DPR/MPR complex, Senayan, Jakarta, Thursday, July 17.

Budi revealed that this factor is one of the top priorities for the government to allow foreign hospitals to operate in Indonesia.

According to him, if a foreign hospital operates in Indonesia, then many local health workers will be absorbed in the hospital.

"It creates excellent job opportunities for hundreds of thousands of health workers," he said.

In addition, Budi said, the opening of foreign hospitals in Indonesia is also considered capable of improving the quality of health in the country.

Budi then alluded to President Prabowo Subianto's desire to pay attention to Indonesian people who seek treatment abroad.

He conveyed that there were around 2 million people who chose to seek treatment abroad in order to get better and more affordable access to health.

Budi said that the 2 million people were deemed not to need to seek treatment abroad if foreign hospitals had been operating in Indonesia.

"For example, special reforms are needed, including opening a hospital owned by foreigners here, as long as the people have easy access, the quality is good, the price is affordable, in my opinion, he really pays attention to our 280 million people," he explained.