Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Health Ministry is targeting to upgrade 66 regional hospitals in remote and underdeveloped regions to provide more comprehensive and high-quality health services, with 32 expected to be completed next year.
"We will build 32 hospitals in remote and underdeveloped regions. Currently, (the construction of) 10 hospitals is underway. We will carry out the groundbreaking gradually until March," the ministry's Director General of Advanced Health, Azhar Jaya, remarked on Wednesday.
Jaya noted that the total number of hospitals being upgraded from Type D to Type C exceeds President Prabowo Subianto's request for 10. The hospitals are prioritized to be constructed in eastern Indonesia and some others in the western parts, such as in Nias and Bengkulu.
He revealed that each hospital is estimated to cost around Rp170 billion (US$10 million), covering buildings and medical devices. Jaya emphasized that his side is prioritizing the procurement of medical devices with a high Domestic Content Level (TKDN) in this program.
Meanwhile, the costs will be borne by the central government and some from the Special Allocation Fund (DAK), he added. In addition to medical devices, there is a need for seven types of basic health workers, including anesthesiologists, internists, and obstetricians and gynecologists.
Baca juga: Health Ministry urges public to join free health screening program
"We have connected these human resources with programs at the Directorate General of Health Human Resources. It will be fulfilled gradually with PGDS (Utilization of Specialist Doctors) and fellowship or education programs that are currently running," Jaya explained.
Baca juga: Ministries to ease rules for sending health workers abroad
He expressed hope that the community in the DTPK area can be accommodated with this program.
Earlier, the Ministry of Health also initiated the acceleration of the Quick Win Best Results Program by conducting a groundbreaking to mark the start of the capacity and quality improvement program at 66 Regional General Hospitals (RSUD) at the Reda Bolo RSUD, Southwest Sumba, East Nusa Tenggara, which is scheduled on January 17.