Health Minister Budi Gunadi highlighted the shortage of workers in the health sector, including the fact that 5.65 percent or 586 out of Indonesia’s 10,373 community health centers (Puskesmas) did not have a doctor.
“We observe that there is a shortage of health workers, including medical specialists, which was very significant in Indonesia,” he noted during an online press conference on Friday.
The minister added that 5,498 out of the 10,373 Puskesmas, or 53 percent, did not have nine types of health workers in accordance with the standard.
“We have a standard that one Puskesmas must have nine types of health workers, such as dentists, midwives, nurses, and others,” he explained.
Moreover, 302 out of the 608 class C and D Regional General Hospitals across Indonesia did not have seven medical specialists.
Related news: Flight surge amid Eid exodus indicates aviation recovery: Minister
“The Regional General Hospital has a standard. It must have seven medical specialists and only 48.9 percent of class C and D RSUD across Indonesia have all seven medical specialists,” he pointed out.
These medical specialists comprise pediatricians, ob-gyn, surgeons, internal medicine doctors, anesthesiologists, radiologists, and pathologists.
To this end, the government has started to focus on transforming the health sector, the minister stated.
This is being implemented by urging contract health workers to immediately apply as Civil State Apparatus (ASN) and contract-based government employees (PPPK).
Sadikin spoke of having held a discussion with other ministers regarding opening the ASN and PPPK positions for contract health workers from 2022 to 2023.
Related news: Ensure Eid al-Fitr exodus travel is safe for children: KPAI
“This is what the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology has done for teachers,” he elaborated.
The ministry has already disseminated information on this recruitment opening to all regional governments, he explained.
“Until now, two hundred thousand health workers, with contract status, have already submitted their data to the health ministry to be processed to become ASN or PPPK,” he stated.
Source: Antara News