According to an official press release on the website of The President of The Republic of Indonesia, president Jokowi, accompanied by the first lady, Mrs. Iriana, inaugurated the Ministry of Health Hospital (RS Kemenkes) in Makassar City, South Sulawesi Friday (6/9/24.) This hospital was built to meet international standards, is equipped with modern health facilities, and is expected to become a center for modern health services for the eastern part of Indonesia.
In his remarks, President Jokowi emphasized the importance of developing the health sector in addition to basic infrastructure such as toll roads and airports. “The government is not only building infrastructure such as toll roads, ports, or airports but also the health service sector, which is very important for us to pay attention to,” said the President.
The President also expressed his concern regarding the condition of several hospitals in the region that are inadequate. However, with hospitals like the one inaugurated in Makassar, the President hopes that health services in Indonesia will improve.
“I went in earlier, this is more than a five-star hotel. A hospital should be like this, brightly lit, clean, with super modern equipment,” he added.
The hospital, which consists of four towers and 12 floors, cost IDR 1.56 trillion to build, with the addition of its own medical equipment, which has already cost IDR 360 billion and will cost IDR 520 billion.
With a capacity of 920 beds and sophisticated equipment such as CathLab, MRI, and CT Scan, the President emphasized that the Makassar Ministry of Health Hospital will become a hospital hub for the eastern region of Indonesia and reduce the need for residents to seek medical treatment abroad.
“We don’t want our people to run to Malaysia, Singapore, America, or Japan anymore. Makassar is enough. The equipment here is not inferior to theirs,” said the President.
With a hospital like this, the President hopes to reduce the loss of state foreign exchange by IDR 180 trillion every year caused by citizens seeking medical treatment abroad.
This hospital is expected to not only improve the quality of health services in Indonesia, but also help reduce the community’s dependence on foreign health services.
Also accompanying President Jokowi on the occasion were Minister of Health Budi Gunadi Sadikin, Acting Governor of South Sulawesi Zudan Arif Fakhrulloh, Mayor of Makassar Danny Pomanto, Acting Director of the Makassar Ministry of Health Hospital Andi Saguni, President Director of PT PP (Persero) Tbk., Novel Arsyad, and President Director of PT Adhi Karya (Persero) Tbk., Entus Asnawi Mukhson.
Source: BPMI Presidential Secretariat, website of The President of The Republic of Indonesia
Image by BPMI Setpres/ Rusman
