Jokowi Launches 6 Hospital-Based Medical Residency Programs
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6 May 2024 10:50 WIB
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo inaugurated the launch of the hospital-based medical residency programs on Monday, May 6, at the courtyard of Harapan Kita Mother and Child Hospital in Palmerah, West Jakarta.
The Health Ministry has officially opened six specialist medical study programs at six hospitals, encompassing areas such as ophthalmology, cardiology, pediatrics, neurology, orthopedics, and oncology.
The President highlighted the significance of the country's health infrastructure in the long run. He pointed out that despite deploying various advanced medical technologies to provinces, districts, and cities, specialists remain lacking.
“There must be a breakthrough. We have to make a breakthrough,” he said in his speech. “The demographic bonus for the next 10, 15 years will be useless if public health is in a poor condition.”
According to Jokowi, Indonesia only produces 2,700 specialist doctors annually, with the majority, or 59 percent, being on the Java island. Conversely, the country requires a total of 29,000 specialists.
Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin said in his statement on May 4 that the opening of these study programs was aimed at addressing the pressing issue of specialist doctor shortage in the country. In addition, he mentioned that the programs would prioritize doctors in regions.
The six hospitals designated for the programs include Cicendo Eye Hospital, Soeharso Orthopedic Hospital, National Brain Center Hospital (PON), Dharmais Cancer Hospital, Harapan Kita Mother and Child Hospital (RSAB), and Harapan Kita RSJPD.
At present, Indonesia has 48,785 specialist doctors, most of whom are located on the island of Java. Regions with less than 100 specialists are West Papua Province, which has zero specialists, North Maluku with 98 specialists, and West Sulawesi with 85 specialists.
DANIEL A. FAJRI
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