TNI And UI Explore Specialist Doctor Education Cooperation

Screenshot of TNI Commander General Andika Perkasa (left) receiving a visit from the Chancellor of the University of Indonesia Prof. Ari Kuncoro (right) at TNI Headquarters, Jakarta/YouTube General TNI Andika Perkasa

JAKARTA - The Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI) and the University of Indonesia (UI) are exploring cooperation in the field of specialist doctor education as discussed by the TNI Commander General Andika Perkasa and UI Chancellor Prof. Ari Kuncoro.

Launching Antara, Friday, March 4, Andika plans to cooperate with the University of Indonesia in recruiting, selecting, and conducting specialist education for doctors who have served in the TNI.

During the meeting, the Commander said he hoped that the University of Indonesia could take care of the stages of recruitment, selection, and education, while later the TNI would provide a military hospital (RS) for practice and apprenticeship.

Andika also said that he and his staff, including the Head of the TNI Health Center, and the head of the TNI's three-dimensional health center, would meet again with the University of Indonesia to discuss technical cooperation.

The TNI under the leadership of Andika Perkasa is trying to increase the number of specialist doctors within the TNI, considering that the current number is still inadequate.

The TNI last month also signed a collaboration with Airlangga University for the education of specialist doctors for soldiers.

The TNI Commander, in collaboration with Airlangga University, also wants the use of a military hospital as a place for internships and practices for soldiers who are taking the Specialist Medical Education Program (PPDS).

Because of this, the Commander in Chief last month, as broadcast on his YouTube channel, asked his staff to list military hospitals that are ready to become places of education.

Rector of Universitas Airlangga Prof. Dr. Mohammad Nasih when inaugurating the collaboration with the TNI last month said that Indonesia still lacks general practitioners and specialists, so that gaps or disparities in health services between regions still occur.

So far, Indonesia has around 41,000 specialist doctors and 145,000 general practitioners, said Prof. bad luck.

The number is not sufficient, because one specialist doctor has to serve more than 6,000 people, he said as quoted from the official website of Universitas Airlangga.