Jakarta (ANTARA) - Reforming the healthcare system is one of the key requirements for Indonesia to deal with the coronavirus pandemic, Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin has said.
"Our task is to carry out a major transformation in Indonesia's healthcare system. The President told me, (facing) this global crisis now begins with the health system. So, this is the best time for us to carry out a major transformation and reform of health services," Minister of Health Budi said at an online meeting on Monday.
Such a transformation needs to include the reform of primary health services, followed by secondary health services, he explained.
He cited the example of pediatric patients with diabetes and expressed the hope that primary and secondary health services would provide a sense of security and the best care for patients, especially children.
"And for patients who are not hospitalized, they can live happily in their homes by getting the best care they can at home. They can live a normal life even though they have been diagnosed with diabetes," the minister remarked.
Thereafter, the focus needs to shift to the health service resilience system, funding or financing, then the human resources in the health sector, and finally, health technology reform, which includes information technology and health biotech, he added.
In terms of health service resilience, it is important for Indonesia to have its own production facilities, Sadikin said.
"We realize that as the fourth most populous country in the world, during this pandemic, we cannot allow production facilities to not exist in our country. Because we see that during a pandemic like this, with restrictions and lockdowns, of course, it will be challenging for the health system if we don't have our own production facilities," he explained.
The minister said the government is also providing support to companies that are committed to building production facilities in Indonesia.
"This is not only a preparation for this pandemic, but also for our children to be ready to face the next (health crisis or pandemic)," he added.
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