"IHC Cooperation With The Mayo Clinic From The US," Said Cucu Konglomerat Mochtar Riady

John Riady. (Photo: Doc. Antara)

JAKARTA - President Commissioner of PT Siloam International Hospitals Tbk (SILO) John Riady is optimistic that the cooperation between the BUMN Hospital holding, Indonesia Healthcare Corporation (IHC) with the Mayo Clinic, the best health institution from the United States (US), will make health services in Indonesia more quality.

"The cooperation is very good and should be appreciated. Indonesia has succeeded in cooperating with bona fide health institutions, such as the Mayo Clinic," John said in a written statement, quoted from Antara, Tuesday, February 7.

The improvement in the quality of health services is a requirement so that people no longer seek treatment abroad due to the high costs that must be incurred. The IHC BUMN holding affiliate, Pertamina Central Hospital (RSPP) has signed a cooperation agreement with the Mayo Clinic at the end of January 2023.

According to John, this collaboration is in line with the vision of Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin to integrate hospitals in Indonesia that have the potential and completeness of infrastructure with international-put hospitals abroad.

"I believe the health quality is number one. As a country with a population of 280 million people, Indonesia has great potential to become a medical destination. This sector is a solid foundation for building the health sector to become a new source of economic growth," said the grandson of conglomerate Mochtar Riady.

He also said that in the long term, many real steps were needed by the government to improve the quality and institutions of health education in Indonesia.

"We are grateful, the government really cares about improving the quality of health, the availability of human resources in the health sector, and educational institutions for health workers. From upstream to downstream it continues to be improved. This is very good. We at the Lippo Group, manage SILO and the Faculty of Medicine, Pelita Harapan University (UPH)," he explained.

On the other hand, added John, one of the crucial factors causing Indonesia's health quality to lose to other ASEAN countries is the low ratio of specialist doctors.

Based on WHO standards, the ratio of specialist doctors and the maximum population is 1:1,000, while in Indonesia only 0.46:1,000.

"I believe the collaboration with the Mayo Clinic will be a jump start to solve urgent and crucial issues," said John.

The Mayo Clinic is known as a non-profit academic health center from the US, which focuses on providing services, education, and health research.

The health center has advantages in services specialists in diabetes and endocrinology, pulmonology and lung surgery, urology, cardiology and heart surgery, as well as cancer and neurology.

On the other hand, John also proposed to the government to organize a health sector diaspora screening program.

Currently, many Indonesian citizens (WNI) have the status of professionals in the health sector, both nurses, doctors, and specialist doctors, living abroad.

SILO, he continued, as one of the largest hospital networks in Indonesia also continues to strive to improve national health quality and provide various facilities and scholarships to doctors to obtain specialist medical expertise.