National

Indonesia Receives Rp844 Billion to Increase Health Services
30 Desember 2003

TEMPO Interactive, Jakarta: Indonesia has received US$105.6 million, about Rp844 billion, to increase health services and education. The funds are made up of US$31 million lent by the International Bank Reconstruction Development (IBRD) and US$74.50 million lent by the International Development Agency (IDA).

The agreement was signed on October 1, 2003 and the funds will be disbursed in January 2004.

Minister of Health Ahmad Sujudi made the announcement during the launching of the Health Workforce and Services project in Jakarta on Tuesday (30/12).

In increasing health services and education, the minister said, the government will hold alternative training for specialist doctors other than through higher education institutions.

“The education is based on local hospital’s competence,” he said, adding that a doctor can take a specialization program at hospitals that receive the funds.

Sujudi explained that specialist doctors who work at the hospitals would train the doctors.

“So, the doctors living in a small cities do not need to go to university [to take specialization program],” he said.

The hospitals that receive the funds are located in West Sumatra, Jambi, West Kalimantan and Central Kalimantan.

“The funds are limited to support other provinces other than the four provinces,” the minister said.

It is planned, the project will be carried out for five years.

Muchamad Nafi - Tempo News Room