Many Indonesian Citizens Treat Overseas, Sandi Reveals A Myriad Of Problems

Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy (Menparekraf), Sandiaga Salahuddin Uno (ANTARA)

JAKARTA - Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy (Menparekraf), Sandiaga Salahuddin Uno admitted that there are still many Indonesian citizens (WNI) who seek treatment abroad. According to him, this is inseparable because medical services in Indonesia are not good enough.

Sandiaga Uno said that not a few people do not believe in the handling of medical personnel in the country. In addition, many hospital medical services in Indonesia are also complicated.

"The problem is trust, trust, and complicated here," said Sandi after attending the opening of the Heartology Cardiovascular Hospital in Jakarta, Tuesday.

Sandi added that another problem related to the health industry in Indonesia is that hospital costs are sometimes more expensive than abroad. In addition, prospective patients sometimes have difficulty finding certain specialists.

"Then the fall is even more expensive sometimes, it's hard to get a doctor, it's hard to get good doctor attention," explained Sandi.

However, Sandi emphasized that the government did not remain silent in seeing the issue of medical services in Indonesia. Sandi stated that the Ministry of Health (Kemenkes) was also responsive in responding to these problems.

"We continue to take reform steps so that the hospitals that we are currently developing, and a lot of investment into our health industry can be simpler, more service-oriented to the community to patients," said Sandi.

Furthermore, Sandi explained that currently there has been a positive backflow for the health industry in Indonesia. According to him, the company, which has been sending patients from Indonesia abroad, is now looking for references in Indonesia.

This, said Sandi, is also inseparable from the efforts of hospitals in Indonesia that continue to improve health services for their patients.

"Earlier I met several companies that had been sending patients from Indonesia abroad. I asked, 'How come this is actually the reverse? We want to learn so far that patients who refer to abroad are referred to hospitals, such as Heartology and others that are being built in Indonesia'," he said.