Prabowo Instructs Acceleration Of Fulfillment Of 70 Thousand Specialist Doctors

President Prabowo Subianto (ANTARA/Andi Firdaus)

JAKARTA - President Prabowo Subianto seriously highlighted the issue of the shortage of 70,000 health workers, especially specialist doctors, which is still a big challenge in Indonesia.

This was conveyed by the Head of State during a speech inaugurating the Integrated Service Building and the National Neuroscience Institute at the Mahar Mardjono National Brain Center Hospital (RSPON), Jakarta, Tuesday, August 26.

"I received a report, we are short of 70,000 specialist doctors. 70.000, we have to catch up immediately," he said as quoted by ANTARA.

Presiden Prabowo menyebut produksi tenaga medis nasional saat ini masih jauh dari kebutuhan.

Today, I got a report that we produce only 12,000 general practitioners one year. Specialist doctors 2,700. So, if we expect to fill 70,000 specialist doctors, we have to wait 35 years," he said.

The Head of State stated that this situation could not be left alone, serious efforts were needed from policy makers.

"We cannot business as usual. We must work harder and use all our abilities to provide the best health services for all Indonesian people," he said.

To answer this challenge, President Prabowo targets the construction of 500 high-quality hospitals in each district in the next four years.

According to him, modern health facilities with adequate medical personnel will determine the safety of patients, especially in handling critical diseases such as stroke.

"If you get a stroke, 3 hours. If you get 3 hours of service, you can be active again. Through 5 hours, the therapy can be a burden for the family for a long time. So how can the health minister, 500 good quality hospitals must be present in all districts in Indonesia. Can you?" he told the Ministry of Health.

The President appreciated Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin and his staff for the construction of international standard health facilities.

However, Prabowo emphasized that intention and strong will are the main keys to accelerating the fulfillment of the needs of medical personnel and health infrastructure in Indonesia.