MUHAMMADIYAH.OR.ID, JAKARTA – President of Muhammadiyah Haedar Nashir highlighted that Muhammadiyah healthcare services are founded on a spirit of service, not on profit. The organization’s mission is to serve people, the nation, and humanity as a whole.
Haedar emphasized that Muhammadiyah commitment to healthcare began long before Indonesia gained independence, as early as 1923. Muhammadiyah was also the first indigenous organization in the country to establish a hospital.
Referring to a speech by dr. Soetomo during the opening of Muhammadiyah PKO Clinic in Surabaya in 1924, Haedar stated that Muhammadiyah health services have always been inclusive and open to anyone in need.
Haedar added that Muhammadiyah follows the principle of welas asih, or compassion that the strong help the weak. This stands in contrast to the idea of social Darwinism that the strong dominate the weak.
“Faith-based private hospitals have shown strong commitment to improving public health, driven by our long experience and deep community ties. That’s why we do not focus on making a profit,” said Haedar in the 33rd anniversary celebration and inauguration of the new outpatient building at RSIJ Sukapura in Kelapa Gading, Jakarta, on Wednesday, May 14.
Haedar stressed that Muhammadiyah hospital development across Indonesia is not based on the logic of investors who often focus on financial return. He urged the government to support health policies that encourage the growth of both public hospitals and those run by religious organizations.
“If the government supports this approach, it will benefit not just religious organizations, but the country as a whole. However, if policies end up hurting faith-based hospitals like Muhammadiyah — and we hope that doesn’t happen — the loss will be felt by Indonesia too.”
Haedar acknowledged that government health facilities alone still cannot meet the needs of the entire population. That’s why he called for stronger collaboration between the public sector and private organizations to build a more inclusive and accessible healthcare system.
Haedar also encouraged research based on real-world conditions to help guide the development of hospitals. These insights, he said, could be shared with the Ministry of Health to support more effective and collaborative healthcare planning.
