Facing Lack Problems, Jokowi Wants Universities To Produce More Specialist Doctors

President Jokowi when delivering information to the media crew after opening the 2024 National Health Work Meeting at ICE BSD, South Tangerang, Wednesday (24/4/2024). (ANTARA/Andi Firdaus)

JAKARTA - President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) hopes that universities and hospitals (RS) can produce more specialist doctors and doctors, to address the issue of a shortage of doctors in Indonesia.

"Because I see that in the field there are many hospitals that do not have certain specialists related to, for example, MRI, lab paint, mammograms. (Doctors) are not there yet but have been encouraged to go there," said Jokowi after attending the 2024 National Health Work Meeting (Rakerkesnas) in Tangerang, Banten, Wednesday, April 24, which was confiscated by Antara.

When delivering a speech at the event, the President highlighted the lack of specialist doctors and doctors who are the biggest problems in the health sector in Indonesia.

Referring to data from the World Health Organization (WHO) in 2019, Jokowi explained that Indonesia only has 0.47 doctors per 1,000 population, or is below the WHO standard with a minimum of 1 doctor per 1,000 population.

Therefore, he said, Indonesia in 2023 revised the Health Law, which, among other things, could facilitate the educational system of prospective specialist doctors.

"(In order to) open the widest possible universities (for specialist medical education), but of course while still paying attention to good qualifications and screening," said Jokowi.

Previously, the Head of the Communication and Public Service Bureau of the Ministry of Health, Siti Nadia Tarmizi, emphasized the importance of distributing equitable medical and health personnel in the country in providing access to health services for the community.

Therefore, said Nadia, there were a number of efforts made, such as the provision of 3,000 scholarships for health human resources. The scholarship, he said, was given by the Education Fund Management Institute (LPDP) and the Ministry of Health.

According to him, the scholarship was intended to make general practitioners interested in becoming specialist doctors. He explained, as many as 30 out of 38 provinces in Indonesia still lack specialists.

In addition to providing scholarships, he said, they also launched hospital-based education to produce more medical personnel, so that distribution is more evenly distributed.

"We hope that more hospitals will manage. Not only vertical hospitals under the Ministry of Health, but there are BUMN hospitals, private hospitals, regional public hospitals can develop the hospital-based education process," he said.

Other efforts, he said, were simplification of registration for the Practice Permit (SIP) and Registration Certificate (STR).

"Then another is the convenience for the diaspora to return to Indonesia, yes. The adaptation process, then how to get the diaspora back to Indonesia," he said.