In response to the critical shortage of specialist doctors in Indonesia, Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin has unveiled a groundbreaking initiative known as the Hospital-Based Specialist Doctor Education Program (PPDS). This strategic program aims to address the scarcity of specialized medical professionals across the country, particularly in the field of thoracic and cardiovascular surgery.
During a recent press conference at the 2025 National Working Conference of the Indonesian Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgeons Association in Jakarta, Minister Sadikin emphasized the urgent need for more specialist doctors to meet the growing healthcare demands of the population. He highlighted the significant shortfall in thoracic and cardiovascular surgeons, who play a crucial role in treating diseases affecting the heart and lungs.
Specialist doctors in thoracic and cardiovascular surgery possess a unique set of skills, including advanced diagnostic abilities, precise drug administration, and expertise in performing intricate surgical procedures. Minister Sadikin underscored the importance of enhancing the knowledge and skills of local doctors through educational programs like PPDS to ensure that patients receive the specialized care they require.
With the implementation of the Hospital-Based PPDS, Indonesia aims to train a new generation of specialist doctors by collaborating with teaching hospitals across the country. Among the six designated teaching hospitals participating in the program are Cicendo Eye Hospital, Soeharso Orthopedic Hospital, National Brain Center Hospital (PON), Dharmais Cancer Hospital, Harapan Kita Hospital, and Harapan Kita RSJPD.
Minister Sadikin is optimistic that this innovative program will significantly reduce the time required to produce qualified specialist doctors, from a decade to approximately five years. By prioritizing the education of local doctors and fostering partnerships between universities and teaching hospitals, Indonesia is poised to bridge the gap between the demand for specialist medical care and the available healthcare workforce.
In a related development, Deputy Health Minister Dante Saksono Harbuwono underscored the pressing need to address the shortage of general practitioners in Indonesia. With a shortfall of 120 thousand general practitioners nationwide, there is a critical need to ramp up the production of medical professionals to meet the healthcare needs of the population.
Harbuwono emphasized the importance of expanding educational opportunities for aspiring general practitioners by increasing enrollment quotas and establishing new medical faculties with innovative academic health survey systems. These initiatives are essential to realizing Indonesia’s vision of a healthier and more prosperous society by 2045.
As the government strives to ensure equitable access to quality healthcare services beyond the island of Java, initiatives like the Hospital-Based Specialist Doctor Education Program and the expansion of general practitioner training programs are critical steps towards building a robust and resilient healthcare system that can meet the evolving needs of the Indonesian population.
In conclusion, the commitment of government officials like Minister Sadikin and Deputy Minister Harbuwono to enhancing medical education and training programs reflects a shared dedication to improving public health outcomes and fostering a brighter future for all Indonesians. Through collaborative efforts and strategic investments in healthcare infrastructure and workforce development, Indonesia is poised to overcome the challenges posed by the shortage of medical professionals and build a healthier, more prosperous society for generations to come.
