Prabowo Announces Specialist Medical Programmes in 11 Provinces to Address Doctor Shortage

President Prabowo Subianto has announced that the government is introducing specialist medical study programmes in 11 provinces for the first time, as part of efforts to address the shortage of medical personnel across various regions. “We are introducing specialist study programmes in 11 provinces for the first time to meet the demand for general practitioners, dentists, and specialist doctors,” Prabowo said during his state address at the 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) at the Parliament Complex in Senayan, Jakarta, on Friday.

Prabowo stated that this measure is necessary because Indonesia still faces a shortage of doctors, including general practitioners, dentists, and specialists. According to data from the Ministry of Health presented by Prabowo, 474 districts/cities require an additional 84,781 general practitioners. Furthermore, 505 districts/cities need an additional 127,580 dentists, while 481 districts/cities require 55,712 more specialist doctors. The shortage is particularly acute in districts/cities far from provincial capitals, including many areas in Eastern Indonesia.

“Therefore, we must find a solution; we must increase the number of specialist doctors, dentists, and general practitioners,” the President stated. The Head of State conveyed that the government has opened nine new medical faculties and 170 specialist and sub-specialist study programmes over the past 21 years. These programmes are being developed based on both university and hospital settings. Prabowo stressed that expanding medical education capacity is essential to meet the healthcare workforce needs, especially in regions that have long suffered from a lack of medical personnel.