Health Minister Ensures 55 Additional PPDS Programmes Meet ACGME Standards
Jakarta – Indonesia’s Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin has assured that 55 additional programmes within the hospital-based Specialist Medical Education Programme (PPDS) will meet accreditation standards from the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) to enhance the learning system and educational outcomes.
“From recruitment and student selection to teacher selection, teaching methods, student conduct, learning systems, study hours, educational quality, and most importantly the mental wellbeing of the students,” he said in Jakarta on Wednesday.
He explained that many stakeholders were concerned that opening numerous programmes might compromise educational quality. However, he assured that ACGME standards from the United States ensure that all processes and procedures are controlled and of high quality.
He made these remarks during the enrolment announcement for specialist medical education programme participants at six Teaching Hospital Main Provider Institutions (RSPPU) for the 2025–2026 period.
In the third batch of RSPPU PPDS, 58 regional doctors will pursue specialist training and will return to serve communities in their regions.
Deputy Health Minister Benyamin Paulus Octavianus stated that according to ACGME, PPDS progress during the first two semesters was rated as good, demonstrating Indonesia’s capability. However, he noted that programmes cannot be opened without limit; ACGME will continue to monitor educational quality in RSPPU PPDS programmes.
Azhar Jaya, Director General of Advanced Health at the Health Ministry, said ACGME was satisfied with Indonesia’s performance.
“Hopefully, this year we will attempt to have an additional 20 programmes accredited by them,” he said.
With support from the Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Technology, the ministry plans to open 52 Teaching Hospitals as Main Provider Institutions (RSPPU) and 55 programmes.
“These are scheduled to launch in 2026 to complement programmes also being opened by colleagues at the Ministry of Higher Education. This is not a point of contention, but rather two complementary efforts to accelerate specialist doctor education and its outcomes in Indonesia,” he said.
Azhar noted that Indonesia still requires 92,000 general practitioners, 129,000 dentists, and 51,000 specialist doctors.
To expedite meeting these needs, the Health Ministry is expanding the RSPPU PPDS programme to complement university-based medical education.