Minister draws attention to existing shortage of General Practitioners

Jakarta (ANTARA) - Deputy Health Minister Dante Saksono Harbuwono noted that Indonesia still lacks 120 thousand general practitioners as per the expected ideal ratio by the World Health Organization (WHO).

"Our general practitioners are around 150 thousand. We are still lacking another 120 thousand doctors based on the ratio by WHO stating that one doctor should cover one thousand residents," he remarked in an online discussion on Tuesday (September 17).

Currently, on average, medical faculties in Indonesia only produce 12 thousand general practitioners per year, he pointed out.

Harbuwono reminded that in the absence of intervention from political policies or government programs, the need for 120 thousand new doctors can only be achieved in the next decade.

"Therefore, we are opening the largest possible quota for general practitioner education. Second, opening a new medical faculty with an academic health survey system," he remarked.

He explained that this is followed by the provision of medical education scholarships to the best talents in the region, with the obligation to return to serve in their region on completion of their education.

Speaking in connection with the need for specialist doctors, Harbuwono then outlined data from the National Development Planning Agency (Bappenas), stating that the ratio of specialist doctors to the population of around 0.30 per 1,000 residents is still not ideal as compared to the total number of Indonesians and needs to be improved.

"We are also still facing uneven distribution of specialists throughout Indonesia. Around 59 percent of specialists are in Java Island," he remarked.

Hence, his side provides scholarships with an affirmative system to the best doctors in the region with the Endowment Fund for Education (LPDP) scheme and scholarship assistance from the Ministry of Health.

In one year, his side granted three thousand scholarships through LPDP to provide living expenses and education for general practitioners to pursue specialist education under the special condition of returning to their origin region and serving as specialists once they complete their education.

He affirmed that to achieve the Golden Indonesia 2045 vision, the need for doctors must be met immediately to improve the health of the Indonesian people.