Ministry of Health and Tokushukai to Transform RS Harapan Kita into Asia's Largest Heart Education Centre

Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Ministry of Health (Kemenkes) together with Japan’s Tokushukai Medical Group is transforming the Harapan Kita Heart and Vascular Hospital (RSJPD) in Jakarta into Asia’s largest centre for heart education and research.

“We have been exchanging doctors, knowledge, and now assets as well. It’s not just the number of doctors increasing over time, but also the level of knowledge,” said Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin in Jakarta on Wednesday.

The Minister also hopes that with strong collaboration between the two parties, heart health services for the Indonesian public can be further improved, given that heart disease annually represents the largest cost burden for BPJS Kesehatan, at least Rp17 trillion in 2025.

Meanwhile, the Director of RSJPD Harapan Kita, Iwan Dakota, stated that the construction of a new building through collaboration between the Indonesian government and Tokushukai will increase the hospital’s capacity from around 400 beds to approximately 800 beds.

“Some facilities will be used as a private wing (private and exclusive ward) with high-standard services so that Indonesians do not need to seek treatment abroad. In addition, this building will also function as a centre for education and research through collaboration with Japan and other countries,” said Iwan.

He continued that the new building will still serve BPJS patients with a proportion of around 70-80 per cent, while the upper floors will be used for premium services to attract patients who previously sought treatment abroad.

“In addition, specialist doctors from Japan and other countries will practise regularly in the new hospital building,” he said.

Not only that, every year, the Tokushukai Group will send several doctors once a year, and there will be nurses interning at RSJPD Harapan Kita.

“In fact, they intern here because of the high case load. In the future, we will try to increase not only the capacity for education but also the amount of research. We will enhance the quantity and quality of collaborative research,” said Iwan.

CEO of Tokushukai Medical Group, Shinichi Higashiue, emphasised that they aim to make the heart education and training centre at RSJPD Harapan Kita the largest in Asia.

“This building will provide the most advanced cardiovascular services, and we want to make this institution one of the largest heart education and training centres in Asia,” said Shinichi.