JAKARTA – The COVID-19 pandemic has forced various countries to implement a health reform agenda. Indonesia is no exception. However, this cannot be done without the collaboration of a number of parties, evaluation, monitoring of governance and funding, as well as improvements in basic health services. President Joko Widodo even emphasized that the Covid-19 pandemic was a momentum to improve the health sector. "Especially regarding governance mitigation and financial sustainability," said Deputy II KSP Abetnego Tarigan while speaking at the Roundtable Discussion on Health Sector Reform between CSOs in Indonesia and Experts in the Netherlands online from the KSP Situation Room, Thursday (26/11).
Moreover, the COVID-19 pandemic has opened the eyes of many parties to the need for improvements to the health system in Indonesia. Especially in terms of evidence-based decision-making processes on health issues. "So I agree with the President's statement that he wants to push health reform as a priority issue in the future," said the Executive Director of PRAKARSA AH Maftuchan.
Meanwhile, Chairperson of the Indonesian Public Health Association (IAKMI) Ede Surya Darmawan emphasized the low percentage of doctoral health workers and professional medical personnel compared to the number needed. So reforming the national health system requires empowering small communities through government assistance.
On the other hand, dr. Adhi Sanjaya from DoctorSHARE's Technical Program Advisor, suggested that the government should improve health services in disadvantaged areas, increase government empowerment, and continue to collaborate with the public private sector in the health sector. Another thing that Indonesia needs is the space for local implementation of the health system. "Following the example of the Netherlands, which has reformed the health system in recent years by increasing the state budget for national health<" said Adhi.
Indonesia and the Netherlands can exchange information on health issues. For example, the Netherlands can learn from Indonesia for some diseases that are not commonly seen in the Netherlands. On the other hand, Indonesia can study the health system in the Netherlands.
Source: KSP.go.id
