Health Minister Makes Surprise Visit to Inspect RSUD North Nias’ Quick-Win, Issues These Observations

North Nias Regency, CNBC Indonesia – Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin inspected the construction of the Regional General Hospital (RSUD) Tafaeri in North Nias Regency, North Sumatra, on Friday, 6 March 2026. The hospital forms part of the Quick Win Programme (PHTC) for hospital construction in 3T areas (tertinggal, terpencil, and terluar). Mr. Budi said the government is currently building 66 hospitals across various regions to strengthen health services in areas that have long faced limited medical facilities. “I have come today to RSUD Tafaeri in North Nias to check the 66-hospital programme in remote and outermost areas,” he said at RSUD Tafaeri, on Friday 6 March 2026. According to him, some of the hospitals in the programme are already nearing completion. He said around eight hospitals were close to final completion, with others still undergoing completion. RSUD Tafaeri itself is cited as one of the hospitals whose progress still needs to be accelerated, even though construction is close to completion. “From what I’ve heard it’s about 95 percent complete, but in my view it’s around the 90s. There are several issues that need addressing,” said Budi. Once completed, the government would also equip the hospital with modern medical equipment. According to Budi, the facilities would enable patients in the Nias region to access medical services previously available only in major cities such as Medan. These include stroke treatment, heart attack care, chemotherapy, and dialysis. “If this hospital is fully equipped, many services such as stroke, cardiac care, chemotherapy and dialysis can be handled here without having to be referred to Medan,” he said. RSUD Tafaeri will also be equipped with a range of medical facilities, including cathlab, radiology, ICU, HCU, PICU/NICU, central surgical installation, and inpatient wards. In addition, the hospital will offer a number of specialist outpatient clinics, including obstetrics and gynaecology (OBGYN), ENT, ophthalmology, urology, oncology, paediatrics, paediatric nutrition, cardiology, internal medicine, neurology, geriatrics, cardiac surgery, neurosurgery, and general surgery. There will also be a medical rehabilitation outpatient clinic to support patient recovery. Nevertheless, Budi emphasised that the biggest challenge in strengthening health services in the region is not merely physical facilities but the availability of specialist doctors. He noted that several specialists at RSUD Tafaeri are still deployed temporarily, with some from other cities or on temporary assignments. “Usually the biggest problem is the doctors. There are still many vacant specialist posts,” Budi said. Therefore, the government is encouraging regional authorities to send local sons and daughters to study to become specialist doctors so they can return to serve in their home areas. “I urge that if possible, local youths be sent to study to become specialist doctors so they can live and serve here,” he added. According to Budi, the hospital would need at least seven to nine specialist doctors, including neurology and cardiology, which relate to two leading causes of death in Indonesia. Road Access to the Hospital to be Improved. Meanwhile, North Nias Regent Amizaro Waruwu said the regional government is also working to improve access to the hospital to make it easier for people to obtain health services. He said the local government had allocated around IDR 40 billion for the construction and road improvements to RSUD Tafaeri. With these improvements, he said, transport access to the hospital is expected to improve so people do not face difficulties when needing medical services. The regional government targets completion of the road improvements in the near future to support the hospital’s operations as it prepares to become a reference health facility in North Nias. “The funding is in place. Last year, 2025, Governor (Sumut Bobby Nasution) already repaired the road from Gunung Sitoli to Lotu intersection. This time, from Lotu intersection to RSUD Tafaeri, the road will be smooth by June, he assured,” he said.