VP Gibran calls for better facilities and staff at regional hospitals

Mamasa, West Sulawesi (ANTARA) - Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka has stressed the importance of improving regional hospital capacity to ensure people can access adequate healthcare services in their own areas without having to travel long distances.

“We want people to receive good healthcare services in their own regions without having to travel far for services that should be available locally,” he said while inspecting Kondosapata Regional General Hospital in Penanian Village, Mamasa District, West Sulawesi, on Monday.

Gibran said efforts to improve the quality of regional healthcare services must be supported by adequate facilities, medical personnel, and equipment.

This is essential to ensure hospitals can meet community needs, particularly by providing safe, quality healthcare without referring patients to facilities outside their regions.

He stressed that hospital infrastructure development must go hand in hand with efforts to meet the need for qualified medical personnel and equipment.

According to him, the availability of buildings and physical facilities must be matched by the hospital’s readiness to provide optimal patient care.

“This hospital is really needed by the community. We want its construction to proceed well, but equally important is ensuring the availability of doctors, medical equipment, and patient services. We must not allow the building to be completed while the facilities and medical personnel are not ready,” he said.

Gibran also reminded officials that hospital construction should not disrupt the continuity of healthcare services. He called for construction activities to be carried out without compromising the safety and comfort of patients receiving treatment.

“During construction, how will patients be served? Please make sure that the work does not compromise patients’ safety and comfort,” he said.

The Vice President also asked about efforts to recruit specialist doctors, including through cooperation with universities under memorandums of understanding (MoUs).

Acting Director of Kondosapata Hospital Naomi Bungan said the hospital currently has several specialists, including obstetricians and gynecologists, an ear, nose, and throat (ENT) specialist, a dental specialist, and an anesthesiologist.

However, the hospital still needs more medical personnel, particularly obstetricians and gynecologists. It currently has only one, while two are needed.

“There are about four specialists now, starting with obstetrics and gynecology, but we only have one, and we need two. Then there is an ENT specialist, a dental specialist, and an anesthesiologist,” Bungan said.

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Translator: Prisca, Kenzu
Editor: Primayanti
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