Wamendiktisaintek: UPR doctors back health development in Central Kalimantan

Palangka Raya — The Deputy Minister for Higher Education, Science and Technology (Wamendiktisaintek), Fauzan, has urged doctors undergoing specialist training at Universitas Palangka Raya (UPR) to commit to serving and contributing to health development in Central Kalimantan. ‘These specialist doctors after graduation are expected to support and strengthen the medical workforce in Kalimantan,’ he said on Thursday, after inaugurating the Medical Education and Research Center (MERC) of the UPR Faculty of Medicine.

Fauzan said that in Indonesia the distribution of doctors remains very limited, with many conditions that require specialist treatment but the number is insufficient or not available. ‘Therefore, as I stated earlier, the doctors educated at UPR after graduation will contribute to health in Kalteng. So there will no longer be the situation where they study here and then move elsewhere,’ he explained.

The Vice Governor of Central Kalimantan, Edy Pratowo, said the MERC’s existence is a major support in delivering high-quality, affordable health services for all segments of society. ‘Progress in regional development is determined by the quality of our human resources,’ he said. He added that MERC would serve as a hub for strengthening research and learning in the health sector, and hoped it would generate synergy with the Provincial Government of Central Kalimantan. ‘This momentum is to join hands to advance the education of Central Kalimantan,’ he asserted.

UPR Rector Salampak said MERC is crucial as a support for the Faculty of Medicine. MERC can be accessed by other programmes to generate innovations for Central Kalimantan and Indonesia. ‘MERC is not just a building but is producing breakthroughs in the health sector,’ he said.