President Prabowo: Indonesia Still Needs 268,073 Additional Doctors and Dentists

President Prabowo Subianto has again highlighted the shortage of doctors in Indonesia. He stated that almost all community health centres (Puskesmas) in the country are not yet equipped with the full 13 types of health workers.

“We must face and solve the problem of the shortage of general practitioners and specialist doctors. Almost all of our Puskesmas do not yet have the complete 13 types of health workers,” Prabowo said during his speech at the Annual Session of the MPR and the Joint Session of the DPR and DPD in Jakarta on Friday (14/8).

He noted that many districts and cities in Indonesia still need additional doctors. Citing data from the Ministry of Health, Prabowo stated that 474 districts/cities require an additional 84,781 general practitioners. Furthermore, 505 districts/cities need an additional 127,580 dentists.

“And 481 districts/cities need an additional 55,712 specialist doctors,” he added.

When combined, the total number of doctors needed across these 1,460 districts and cities amounts to 268,073. Prabowo mentioned that these districts and cities are generally located far from provincial capitals, especially in Eastern Indonesia.

He asserted that his administration is not remaining idle. Under his leadership, the government has opened nine new medical faculties and 170 specialist and sub-specialist study programmes based at universities and hospitals.

Prabowo explained that these measures are being taken to address the need for general practitioners, dentists, and specialist doctors. “We must increase the number of our specialist doctors, dentists, and general practitioners. Because damage to the teeth can lead to damage to other organs in the body,” he said.