Visit North Sumatra's Sibuhuan Hospital, Jokowi Intervention Gives Additional Medical Equipment

President Jokowi reviewed health services at the Sibuhuan Hospital, Padang Lawas Regency, North Sumatra, Friday, March 15, 2024. (ANTARA)

JAKARTA - President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) ensures that health services, including facilities with the guarantee of the Health Social Security Administration (BPJS), run optimally at Sibuhuan Hospital, Padang Lawas Regency, North Sumatra (North Sumatra).

"I want to make sure the hospital services here are good and I saw that at the BPJS registration everything went quickly," President Jokowi told the media crew after the review, through an official statement received in Jakarta, Friday, March 15, which was confiscated by Antara.

The head of state said that RSUD Sibuhuan has 17 specialist doctors or exceeds the standard of hospitals which have at least seven specialist doctors.

However, President Jokowi assesses that specializations for heart and stroke may need to be added and this will be followed up by the Minister of Health (Menkes).

President Jokowi also identified several shortcomings such as the need for additional medical equipment including CT scans, emmography and chemotherapy facilities, as well as capacity building and room capacity building increases.

"This is what we will fix, we will build, we will intervene. I think it's good," said President Jokowi.

On the other hand, a number of BPJS Health user patients expressed their satisfaction with the service which was more efficient thanks to the online system.

One of BPJS users, Indah Simanjuntak, assessed the fast referral process from the puskesmas to the RSUD and emphasized that BPJS services are very helpful, especially in terms of health costs.

"If we compare treatment to the private sector, the cost is more expensive. Meanwhile, the service remains the same, not different. Still get good medicine, get good doctors, so it's the same. It's very helpful," said Indah.

President Jokowi's visit to the Sibuhuan Hospital shows the government's ongoing efforts to ensure equal accessibility and quality of health services throughout Indonesia.

This also indicates a long-term commitment to advancing health infrastructure and meeting the needs of people in the regions.

Also accompanying President Jokowi during the visit were Minister of Public Works and Public Housing (PUPR) Basuki Hadimuljono, Minister of Health Budi Gunadi Sadikin, Acting Governor of North Sumatra Hassanudin, and Acting Regent of Padang Lawas Edy Junaedi.