Indonesia expands specialist medical education to 11 provinces
“We have introduced specialist medical study programs for the first time in 11 provinces to meet the need for general practitioners, dentists, and specialist doctors,” he said in his annual State of the Nation Address at the Parliament Complex in Jakarta on Friday.
At the 2026 Annual Session of the People’s Consultative Assembly (MPR) and the Joint Session of the House of Representatives (DPR) and the Regional Representatives Council (DPD), Prabowo acknowledged the unequal distribution of doctors across Indonesia.
Citing data from the Ministry of Health, the president noted that 474 districts and cities nationwide still require an additional 84,781 general practitioners.
He also underscored the need for 127,580 dentists in 505 districts and cities, as well as 55,712 specialist doctors in 481 districts and cities across the country.
The president noted that the shortages are most acute in districts and cities in eastern Indonesia, particularly those located far from provincial capitals.
“With that in mind, we need to find a solution. It is crucial that we produce more specialist doctors, dentists, and general practitioners,” Prabowo said.
He went on to say that the government had opened nine medical schools and 170 specialist and subspecialist study programs over the past 21 years in collaboration with universities and hospitals.
The head of state reiterated that expanding the capacity of medical education is essential to improving access to adequate health services, particularly in underserved regions facing physician shortages.
Indonesia on Friday morning held the annual sessions of the MPR, DPR, and DPD to mark the 81st anniversary of the country’s Independence Day. Prabowo addressed the assembly to deliver the State of the Nation Address while outlining the performance of state institutions.
In the afternoon, he presented the State Budget Draft for the 2027 Fiscal Year, along with its Financial Note and supporting documents, at the DPR’s first plenary session of the 2026-2027 sitting period.
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Translator: F. Rochman, Tegar Nurfitra