Serang Regency DPRD Member Highlights Inadequate Healthcare Services on Islands

A member of the Serang Regency DPRD, Muhibbin, has highlighted the healthcare facilities in the Pulau Tunda and Pulau Panjang areas. According to him, services on the two islands are still inadequate and require policy innovations. Ibbin, as Muhibbin is known, stated that the two islands only have auxiliary health centres (pustu), but they are not operating optimally. “Currently, there is only an auxiliary health centre (pustu) as a service point, but its presence will not be the answer if it is not accompanied by healthcare workers (nakes) on duty every day and the availability of adequate medicines,” said Ibbin on Thursday (16/4/2026). Ibbin also mentioned an incident on 22 March 2026 on Pulau Tunda. At that time, an 11-year-old child was stung by a venomous fish. “An incident occurred on 22 March 2026, where an 11-year-old child was stung by a venomous fish, but there were no healthcare workers on site to provide treatment,” he said. The Chairman of the Gerindra Faction of the Serang Regency DPRD regretted the incident. According to him, island areas should receive special treatment and cannot be equated with mainland areas. “The service standards should not be equated with mainland areas. Because this is a special area, namely an island, there must be special services, including facilities and infrastructure,” he stated. “On the mainland, there are many doctors; even without a health centre, there are clinics. So, what about on the islands?” he continued. In addition to requesting that healthcare workers at auxiliary health centres be available every day, Ibbin also proposed the idea of a floating health centre. This health centre would be in the form of a boat equipped with doctors, medical equipment, and medicines. “Doctors can visit twice a week. So if we have a floating health centre, there will be a routine schedule to go there,” he said. If there are island residents who require further medical treatment, the floating health centre can transport patients to the mainland. “So when residents seek treatment during visiting hours and need further handling, they can be directly taken to the hospital using the floating health centre,” he said. The presence of routine doctor visits to island areas is considered important for the community. This situation can foster the spirit to recover. “Sick residents, for example on Saturday or Sunday, will have the suggestion to recover. They can be calm because they know that on Tuesday the doctor will come to the island,” he said.