Collaborating to Expand Access to Healthcare Services and Health Education
Efforts to increase public health awareness through community-based approaches continue to be strengthened. This is demonstrated by a strategic partnership between Siloam Hospitals Surabaya and the Indonesian Chinese Association (INTI), marked by the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in Surabaya on Saturday (6/6).
The collaboration aims to expand public access to quality healthcare services while encouraging increased awareness regarding disease prevention and the adoption of healthy lifestyles. Through this partnership, INTI members will gain various healthcare service conveniences via the MySiloam Card programme. Additionally, both parties will implement various promotive and preventive programmes, including health education, health screenings, health seminars, and social activities for the community.
The Director of Siloam Hospitals Surabaya, Maria Magdalena Padmidewi, stated that collaborating with communities is a strategic step to extend the benefits of healthcare services to the public. “We believe that collaboration with various communities and organisations is an important step in expanding the positive impact of healthcare services. Through our cooperation with INTI, we hope to provide broader benefits to the community through various sustainable health programmes,” she said, as quoted from a written statement received on Monday (8/6).
According to Maria, modern healthcare does not only focus on treating patients when they are ill, but also encompasses promotive and preventive efforts that help the community maintain health sustainably. Therefore, community involvement is considered essential to expand the reach of health education.
Meanwhile, the Chairman of the INTI East Java Regional Board, Stefanus Budy Wijaya, welcomed the partnership. He noted that the synergy between community organisations and health institutions can provide wider benefits to the public. With the community network held by INTI, the various health programmes to be implemented together are expected to reach more citizens and provide a real impact on improving public health quality.
Both parties are also committed to building a long-term partnership focused on increasing health awareness, disease prevention, and strengthening the quality of life through sustainable programmes. Amidst the increasing attention to the importance of preventive health, cross-sector collaborations such as this are considered an effective approach to bringing healthcare services closer to the community.