New task force to boost doctor numbers, quality

hartono · Jun 28, 2025

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Minister of Higher Education, Science and Technology (Mendiktisaintek) Brian Yuliarto gives directions at the 2025 Congress of the Association of Indonesian Medical Education Institutes (AIPKI) in Padang City, West Sumatra Province on June 27, 2025. (ANTARA/Muhammad Zulfikar)

Padang (ANTARA) - The Higher Education, Science, and Technology Ministry (Kemendiktisintek) will soon establish a task force and working group team to accelerate the increase in number and quality of doctors, including specialist medical personnel and general practitioners.

It is a follow-up to President Prabowo Subianto's direction to the ministry to increase the number of medical faculties on domestic campuses to address the shortage of doctors in the country.

"This is a historical call, a sign to build healthier and fairer Indonesian health services," Minister of Higher Education, Science, and Technology Brian Yuliarto stated in Padang City, West Sumatra Province, on Friday.

The minister made this statement during his speech at the 2025 Congress of the Association of Indonesian Medical Education Institutes (AIPKI) in Padang City.

The task force will offer recommendations to the government for the necessary simplification of regulations to improve the quality and quantity of doctors in Indonesia.

He emphasized that the task force will also formulate and review the quality and distribution of specialist services in various regions in Indonesia.

The ministry's study revealed the potential to add 165 specialist study programs, which could attract more than 4,300 students to the Specialist Doctor Education Program (PPDS) between 2025 and 2028.

In addition to increasing the number of study programs, the ministry sees the need to strengthen health promotion and prevention efforts in the development of medical education.

As reported, Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto has instructed Minister of Health Budi Gunadi Sadikin and Minister of Higher Education, Science, and Technology Brian Yuliarto to increase the number of medical faculties in domestic campuses to boost the number of doctors in Indonesia.

The president urged his ministers not to be hindered by outdated procedures and regulations that prevent the government from addressing the shortage of doctors in the country.