Strengthen Bilateral Cooperation, Ministry Of Health Facilitates Delivery Of Hundreds Of Nurses To Japan

The Ministry of Health held a meeting with the Mie Prefectural Government, Japan (Doc.Kemenkes)

The Ministry of Health said it met with the Mie Prefectural Government, Japan, to strengthen bilateral cooperation through sending hundreds of nurses to Japan as well as increasing the competence of nurses.

"We see Japan, especially Mie Prefecture, as an important partner in the development of the Indonesian health system. With Japan's experience in dealing with an aging society, this collaboration is very relevant to support health reform in Indonesia," said Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin in a statement received in Jakarta, Wednesday.

The meeting, he said, also discussed other potential collaborations, such as increasing the capacity of Indonesian health workers through training and apprenticeship, as well as cooperation in the fields of elderly services, nursing, and health technology.

As part of efforts to improve competence, said Budi, his party is also working with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) through the Enhancement of Caregiver Competency project which focuses on strengthening the expertise of Poltekkes graduates in the field of geriatric nursing and long-term maintenance.

In addition, collaboration with the Sapporo Cardiovascular Center provides an annual opportunity for intervening cardiology specialists, with a quota of four participants per year.

Budi expressed his appreciation for the ongoing support from the Japanese Government, especially Mie Prefecture. He hopes that in the future cooperation can be expanded in the development of nursing faculty, medical laboratory technology, and environmental health at the Ministry of Health Poltekkes; the establishment of clinical and applied research centers in Indonesia; as well as facilitation of direct medical manipulation programs, especially in the field of cardiology and neurology intervention.

According to him, the cooperation between Indonesia and Japan not only reflects solid bilateral relations, but is also a strategic investment to produce superior health workers, both to meet national and global needs.

"The bilateral relationship between Indonesia and Japan in the health sector continues to develop positively and progressively. Through close cooperation between the Indonesian Ministry of Health and various health institutions and local governments in Japan, thousands of Indonesian health workers are now having the opportunity to develop their careers in Sakura Country," said Budi.

One tangible form of the collaboration is the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Director General of Health at the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Indonesia and the Governor of Mie Prefecture on July 30, 2024. This MoU, he said, opens up opportunities for graduates of the Ministry of Health's Poltekkes to participate in training and work in Japan as caregivers and certified nurses.

In the same statement, Mie Prefectural Governor Ichimi Katsuyuki expressed his readiness to receive up to 300 Indonesian nurses every year, with the support of a subsidy budget for recipient institutions. Ichimi assessed that the steps were able to create a safe, comfortable, and decent work environment for Indonesian health workers.

"We are open to supporting various programs to increase the capacity of Indonesian health human resources. We are sure that this collaboration will provide great benefits for both countries," he said.