President Asks For Target Of 70 Thousand Specialist Doctors To Be Speeded Up, Minister Of Health Budi: Must Be Faster

PADANG - Minister of Health (Menkes) Budi Gunadi Sadikin together with the Minister of Higher Education, Science and Technology (Mendiktisaintek) Prof. Brian are working to accelerate the achievement of the target of 70,000 specialist doctors according to President Prabowo Subianto's request.

"The president has indeed asked the Minister of Education and Technology, Prof. Brian, to accelerate the target of 70 thousand specialist doctors, and we are working on this," said Budi in Padang City, West Sumatra, Antara, Monday, August 11.

He conveyed this when giving a public lecture at the Opening of Campus Life for New Students (PKKMB) Padang State University.

According to Budi, the acceleration was carried out through various interventions, one of which was in the hospital based sector. At the same time, the Ministry of Education and Technology has also boosted efforts to accelerate the education of specialist doctors.

Based on his discussion with the Minister of Education and Technology, the target of 70,000 specialist doctor graduates is estimated to have only been achieved in the next 10'15 years. However, the President asked for the target to be cut in time, given the high need for medical personnel in the country.

"The President did not want to (10'15 years) and asked for it even faster," said Budi.

He emphasized that the pressure was reasonable because it involved meeting basic public health needs. The Ministry of Health has projected a shortage of around 70,000 specialist doctors until 2032, so acceleration is a step that cannot be postponed.