Religious Affairs Minister Inaugurates Medical Faculty at UIN Sunan Kalijaga

Minister of Religious Affairs Nasaruddin Umar inaugurated the establishment of the Medical Faculty and the Doctor Profession Study Programme at the State Islamic University (UIN) Sunan Kalijaga Yogyakarta on Thursday. He stated that having a Medical Faculty positions UIN as a ‘real university’, one that can project an image of Islamic education encompassing not only religion but all other aspects of science. ‘The presence of this medical faculty means the graduates produced will be Islamic doctors,’ he said. According to Nasaruddin Umar, an Islamic doctor’s approach will not only involve physiotherapy and physiology but also spiritual matters. He noted that sometimes suggestion can heal, and UIN will be capable of producing experts in therapeutic suggestion. ‘It is not certain that medical faculties at other higher education institutions can use deeply spiritual language. The combination of spiritual language with medical language is hoped to provide exceptional power for patients,’ he explained. He emphasised that such an approach is highly desirable, enabling patients to be healed not just physically but also in terms of their psychological issues. The Minister expressed hope that the presence of the Medical Faculty at UIN Sunan Kalijaga will foster a new image for Islamic education in Indonesia. He confirmed the faculty’s establishment aligns with President Prabowo Subianto’s priorities, particularly physical and mental health. He also touched upon the issue of stunting, describing it as limited brain growth that disrupts intelligence, causes brittle bones, and restricts muscle development. Rector of UIN Sunan Kalijaga Prof. Noorhaidi Hasan asserted that launching the Medical Faculty with a distinctive focus on the prevention and promotion of musculoskeletal diseases and elderly health is a strategic momentum for UIN Sunan Kalijaga to strengthen its contribution to developing superior Indonesian human resources. The rector added that Indonesia needs doctors who also possess social sensitivity, and thus the medical education at UIN Sunan Kalijaga is built to produce graduates who master medical science, ethics, and Islamic values. Separately, at the Regional Economic Forum for the Java Halal Ecosystem 2026 held at the campus, the Minister stated that as the country with the world’s largest Muslim population, Indonesia has significant potential to become a centre for international halal ecosystem development. He said the government is showing commitment through policies such as accelerating halal certification and strengthening Sharia economic literacy. The Minister noted that Sharia-compliant behaviour in Indonesia is still relatively low at 7.5% compared to Malaysia’s 67%, and urged UIN Yogyakarta to become a pioneer in realising a halal and blessed ecosystem.