Indonesia Invests in Quality Healthcare Access

On May 6th, 2024 the President of Indonesia, Joko Widodo attended a ceremony to launch the new hospital-based Specialist Doctor Education Program which supports Indonesia’s growing commitment to the healthcare industry and provides strong support for investment in Indonesia. 

Emphasizing Health Education and Resource Distribution

One major challenge to all government sectors is the equal distribution of quality services to 275.5 million people spread across 6,000 islands and 3 time zones. Per Indonesian Minister of Health Budi Gunadi Sadikin, the unequal distribution of doctors has been a problem in the country for 79 years. Approximately 59% of doctors are found on the island of Java, and there are 4 other main islands as well as around 6,000 smaller islands in Indonesia.

The Minister stated that around 29,000 specialist doctors are needed. Through the new hospital-based education program the amount of time needed to produce the specialists required to meet demand from over 10 years is expected to be reduced to 5 years. Fortunately, the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME), which leads education standards for the Mayo Clinic and Johns Hopkins Hospital, will be involved in the program standards. Read the full Specialist Doctor Education Program in Indonesia on the Kemenkes site.

Investing in New Hospitals

In addition to the new program, Indonesia has a fast-growing hospital infrastructure with the most new hospital construction projects in South East Asia. In Q4 of 2023 alone, 5 new hospital construction projects broke ground.

A new, private hospital in Bali has been in the works for quite some time and is expected to open at the end of Q3 this year. Notably, the hospital will be managed by the Indonesian Healthcare Corporation (IHC) with Mayo Clinics help during the planning stages. Bali International Hospital will be equipped with all of the newest medical devices and imaging technologies and is forecasted to increase medical tourism in Indonesia.

In Indonesia’s soon-to-be capital city of Nusantara construction has started on another new hospital. The hospital will be operated by Medikaloka Hermina and is expected to have a 100 bed capacity, mostly for mothers and children.

Furthermore, in East Kalimantan, Sepaku UPT Hospital Development is expected to be completed by Q3 of 2024. It boasts 550 rooms and is projected to attract more regional doctors.

Our office in Indonesia is equipped to get IVDs and Medical Devices to market as quickly as possible. As Indonesia increases the reach of its healthcare infrastructure, so too should demand for new devices. Contact us for help with registration in Indonesia. Visit our blog post on Indonesia’s new Health Law.