February 25, 2026 | 04:34 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Minister of Health, Budi Gunadi Sadikin, stated that the Indonesian government is targeting the installation of hundreds of modern medical devices by the end of 2027. This is being done to address disparities in health services between urban and rural areas.
The medical devices include CT Scans, Mammography, Cath Lab, and Immunohistochemistry laboratories for anatomical pathology. Budi mentioned that the government aims to have these medical devices installed in 514 regencies and cities. Additionally, dozens of MRI, LINAC, SPECT-CT, brachytherapy, and PET scans are expected to be available in all provinces.
In addition, the Ministry of Health has decided to install laparoscopic endoscopy equipment in every regency and city. With this equipment, general surgeries such as hernias, appendicitis, and gallbladder removal can be performed without open surgery.
"The only remaining issue is the number of doctors and their distribution," Budi said in his address at the Orientation of the Hospital-Based Specialist Education Program Period II 2025 - 2026 at the Ministry of Health in South Jakarta, on Wednesday, February 25, 2026.
To address this issue, the government is expanding the hospital-based specialist doctor education scheme. He stated that this scheme is designed to distribute doctors according to the needs of each area, not based on social background or financial capability.
Recruitment is focused on doctors working in hospitals with high specialty service needs and prioritizes local candidates. "We recruit based on the needs of each area," he said.
Budi also highlighted the high cost of specialist doctor education in Indonesia, which can reach hundreds of millions to billions of rupiah. Such financing structures are considered to limit access and make specialist education only affordable to certain groups.
Under the new program, participants in the specialist doctor education program will receive salaries from the start until they graduate. The government aims to change the paradigm that specialist doctors are not students who have to pay tuition fees, but professionals who are being trained and entitled to compensation for their work.
This program has entered its third batch and will continue to be expanded. This year, the government plans to add up to 55 new study programs.
In response to doubts about quality, Budi assured that the education standards used adhere to the international certification from the United States based on ACGME (Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education). These standards regulate the recruitment process, learning systems, education hours, and the quality of graduates.
With these standards, the government hopes that graduates of specialist doctors in Indonesia can be globally recognized and have the opportunity to work in various countries.
Budi concluded his message by emphasizing the value of dedication in the medical profession. "If you want to make money, follow my career as a banker. But if you want to serve the community, be a doctor," he said.
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