Prabowo Urges Ministers to Open More Medical Faculties to Tackle Doctor Shortage

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - President Prabowo Subianto has instructed Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin and Minister of Higher Education, Science, and Technology Brian Yuliarto to expand the number of medical faculties in response to the shortage of doctors in Indonesia.

"We must immediately add medical faculties," said Prabowo during the inauguration of the Sanur Special Economic Zone (SEZ) and Bali International Hospital in Denpasar on Wednesday, June 25, 2025, as streamed on the Presidential Secretariat’s YouTube channel.

Prabowo also called on both ministers to increase the number of nursing academies and specialist training programs. He urged that these efforts be carried out with efficiency.

"Don't get too caught up in old procedures and regulations, and regulations that cannot address the difficulties and challenges of today," he added.

The former Defense Minister stressed that Indonesia must not fall behind other countries, and that outdated, inefficient, and wasteful administrative systems must be eliminated.

"The Indonesian people do not want a system like that, the Indonesian people demand an efficient government and good service," he stated.

During his working visit to Bali, Prabowo also inaugurated the Ngoerah Sun Wellness and Aesthetic Center at the Prof. dr. I.G.N.G Ngoerah General Hospital (RSUP), before leading the opening of the Sanur SEZ and Bali International Hospital.

Yusuf Permana, Deputy for Protocol, Press, and Media at the Presidential Secretariat, said that Prabowo’s visit underscores the government's continued focus on health and economic development. It also reinforces Bali’s role as a hub for the transformation of public services to meet international standards.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Health had previously announced plans to increase the quota for medical students in universities. Deputy Health Minister Dante Saksono Harbuwono explained that this is part of the effort to overcome the shortage of doctors.

"So, one of them is by increasing the quota of medical education students in medical faculties," Dante said during the 75th anniversary of the University of Indonesia’s Faculty of Medicine in Salemba on Wednesday, February 26, 2025.

He added that increasing student quotas would result in more medical graduates available to serve the public. The government also plans to open several new medical faculties, although Dante said the specific locations would be determined by the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, and Technology.

Dante emphasized that quality assurance remains a priority for any new medical schools established.

"Even though there are new medical faculties, if their quality is not guaranteed, this must be ensured for maximal health services in the future," he said.

M Rizky Yusrial contributed to the writing of this article.

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