Minister Of Health Inaugurates Heart Operation Services At Undata Hospital Palu

Minister of Health Budi Gunadi Sadikin reviewed the first open heart surgery at the Undata Palu Hospital, Friday (1/8/2025). BETWEEN THE Central Sulawesi Provincial Government'S ANTARA/HO-Humas

PALU - Minister of Health of the Republic of Indonesia Budi Gunadi Sadikin inaugurated and reviewed the implementation of the first open heart surgery, at the Undata Palu Regional General Hospital (RSUD), Friday, August 1.

"When I first took office, there were only nine provinces that had open heart surgery services. Today, I am grateful that Central Sulawesi became the 27th. This is an extraordinary achievement," he said at the inauguration, quoted from Antara, Friday, August 1.

The inaugural operation was the result of a collaboration between a team of doctors at the Undata Hospital and a team of specialists from the Harapan Kita Jakarta Heart and Blood Vessel Hospital and Wahidin Sudirohusodo Hospital in Makassar.

He explained that since September 2022, the transformation of the national health system began with priority for three deadly diseases, namely stroke, heart, and cancer.

Heart care, he continued, is the second cause of death after stroke, with a figure of 275 thousand people per year. Each provincial hospital must be able to handle three types of heart surgery, namely elementary open heart surgery, bypass, and children's heart.

He also highlighted the fact that of the 12,000 babies born each year with congenital heart disorders, only 6,000 can be operated on. While the rest died not because the disease could not be treated, but because of a shortage of doctors and facilities.

Meanwhile, Deputy Governor of Central Sulawesi, dr. Reny A. Lamadjido conveyed that the success of the inaugural operation could not be separated from the commitment and direct intervention of the Central Sulawesi Provincial Government, including in preparing all technical needs of the Undata Hospital.

"Since February 20, 2025, we have directly escorted this process. I went directly to the hospital, confirmed the partition of the operating room so, we chased the procurement of equipment, we even prepared a plan to stop cooperation with BPJS, otherwise we would immediately facilitate services," he said.

He emphasized that there are no more Central Sulawesi residents who have to leave the area, just because there are no facilities or doctors. All medical measures must be carried out in the hospital itself.

The Deputy Governor promised that after the heart surgery service, the Central Sulawesi Provincial Government would focus on fixing stroke, cancer, and neonatal services, including the construction of new buildings and the procurement of supporting equipment.