North Sumatra provincial government successfully improves public health standards

Medan — The North Sumatra provincial government has successfully improved public health standards through integrated health programmes. ‘This success is largely due to the significant role of North Sumatra Governor Bobby Nasution through strengthened integrated health programmes focused on public service,’ said North Sumatra Health Department Head Faisal Hasrimy in Medan on Friday. Through the Kolaborasi Sumut Berkah vision, several macro health indicators have been met, including increased life expectancy and a significant decrease in maternal mortality rate, surpassing national targets. Seven key performance indicators were set, with five achieving over 100% of targets. ‘This is the result of hard work, synergy, and a holistic approach across central, provincial, and district-level institutions to strengthen integrated health services in Sumut,’ Faisal said. Life expectancy reached 74.19 years, exceeding the performance agreement target of 74.01 years with a 100.24% achievement in 2025. ‘This shows a positive trend compared to previous years: 73.90 years in 2024 and 73.67 in 2023, indicating improved quality of life and healthcare access in North Sumatra,’ Faisal explained. The most notable achievement is the reduction in maternal mortality rate to 45.38 per 100,000 live births, well below the initial target of 65.78 (131.01% achievement) and the national average of 85.17 in 2025. ‘The mandatory by-name, by-address reporting via the Maternal Perinatal Death Notification (MPDN) app from the Ministry of Health has proven effective in helping healthcare facilities quickly respond to potential maternal and infant mortality risks,’ Faisal stressed. The province has also expanded health insurance coverage, with National Health Insurance (JKN) participation at 100.67% against a target of 98.6%, maintaining Universal Health Coverage (UHC) status so residents face no financial barriers to healthcare. ‘Regarding service quality, 53.96% of healthcare facilities, including Puskesmas and hospitals, achieved full accreditation, surpassing the 41.1% target with a 131.29% achievement,’ Faisal said.