Jokowi Inaugurates The Largest Hospital In Makassar To Prevent Treatment Abroad

President Jokowi/PHOTO via Instagram @jokowi

JAKARTA - President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) expressed the government's commitment to improving health services in the country by inaugurating one of the largest hospitals in Indonesia located in Makassar, South Sulawesi.

The President emphasized the importance of investment in the health sector in order to reduce the loss of foreign exchange due to Indonesian people often seeking treatment abroad.

"We don't want any more sick people, sick people, they run to Malaysia, they run to Singapore, they run to America, they go to Japan, enough in Makassar," said President Jokowi as quoted by ANTARA, Friday, September 6.

During his visit this morning to Surabaya and in the afternoon to Makassar, the Head of State expressed his sadness at the condition of public hospitals in areas that were often considered inadequate.

He expressed concern about the dark hospital room and the condition of the slum facilities.

"I sometimes feel sad when I enter a regional hospital, a rather dark room, the hospital is also shabby," he said.

The hospital which was inaugurated today in Makassar is the eighth time inaugurated by President Jokowi ahead of his retirement as Head of State in October 2024.

The hospital consists of four towers and 12 floors, with a total development budget of IDR 1.56 trillion.

In addition, said Jokowi, the medical equipment that has been operated in this hospital will cost IDR 360 billion, with an additional budget of IDR 520 billion in the future. The total budget reaches more than IDR 2 trillion.

President Jokowi also expressed his admiration for hospital facilities which are now equivalent to international standards. A number of tools available include cathlab to magnetic resonance angiography (MRA).

"I entered earlier, how come this exceeds the 5-star hotel. The hospital equipment is all supermodern," said the President.

"With a capacity of 920 beds, this hospital is expected to become the main health referral center in eastern Indonesia," said Jokowi.

With sophisticated health facilities in the country, the President hopes that people will no longer need to seek treatment abroad.

Every year, said Jokowi, the country experiences a loss of foreign exchange of up to Rp180 trillion due to its citizens seeking treatment abroad.

"We can prevent it by building hospitals with international standards," he said.

It is hoped that this hospital will reduce people's dependence on foreign medicine and improve the quality of health services in Indonesia.