Country needs more cardiologists

PALEMBANG, South Sumatra: The Indonesian Cardiologist Association has promised to help the government meet the demand for the heart specialists in remote areas by 2010.

The association's secretary-general, Harmani Kalim, said that Papua, East Nusa Tenggara, North Maluku and Maluku were among provinces where there was an absence of cardiologists.

Of 344 registered cardiologists, around 200 of them work in Jakarta and Surabaya, while the rest are scattered in 20 provinces.

"We've set a target of helping the government provide all provinces with cardiologists in five years, so that we can serve nationwide," Harmani said. -- Antara