MUHAMMADIYAH.OR.ID, YOGYAKARTA – The Minister of Health of the Republic of Indonesia Budi Gunadi Sadikin and President of Muhammadiyah Haedar Nashir discussed the revitalization and development of healthcare in Indonesia. They also talked about the reformative policy of the Ministry of Health to address the shortage of doctors.
President of Muhammadiyah Haedar Nashir mentioned that Muhammadiyah has hospitals and medical faculties in Muhammadiyah higher education institutions, so they may become answers to the deficiency. The hospitals and faculties, indeed, are integrated by Muhammadiyah.
Besides, the visit aimed to discuss possible collaboration between the Ministry of Health and Muhammadiyah. It may be fruitful to increase the number of doctors.
“We deliberate how to leverage Muhammadiyah hospitals and higher education institutions to make reformative policy for doctor procurement and development,” said Haedar in the meeting at the Muhammadiyah Office of Yogyakarta on Tuesday (June 4).
Additionally, they spoke about community-based healthcare acceleration. The Ministry of Health, ‘Aisyiyah, and Muhammadiyah would like to develop community-based healthcare programs. Those three parties have concerned with issues of tuberculosis (TBC) and stunting, and now they are willing to design other healthcare programs and utilize Muhammadiyah and ‘Aisyiyah networks.
“Therefore, public health programs based in hospitals and supported by medical faculties can synergize and integrate with community health empowerment, which remains a serious issue in Indonesia,” said Haedar.
Considering Indonesia’s territory, the Ministry of Health would confront challenges by implementing healthcare programs on its own. Thus, Muhammadiyah and ‘Aisyiyah assist in ensuring the success of those programs to expand their benefits to remote areas.
Furthermore, they discussed the much-debated Health Bill. Prior to its deliberation by Commission IX of the Indonesian House of Representatives, Haedar wished the House of Representatives would take into account public aspirations on this bill. Consequently, if the bill is enacted, it is expected to become a good law.
The collaboration between the Ministry of Health and Muhammadiyah may improve healthcare in Indonesia, result in community-based health programs, accelerate development, increase the number of doctors, and contribute to aspirational and better policy-making.
For information, in the visit, the Minister of Health was accompanied by the Secretary-General Kunta Wibawa Dasa, while the President of Muhammadiyah was together with Dr. Agus Taufiqurrahman, Chairman of the Muhammadiyah for Health; Agung Danarto, Chairman of the Muhammadiyah; Agus Samsuddin, Chairman of the Muhammadiyah Council for Public Health Development (MPKU), and its members; a representative of ‘Aisyiyah Siti Noordjannah Djohantini; and the Rector of Universitas ‘Aisyiyah Warsiti.
