Indonesia Banks On Tech In US$240 Bln Healthcare Overhaul
By Mohd Iswandi Kasan Anuar
JAKARTA, June 5 (Bernama) -- Indonesia expects its healthcare spending to hit US$240 billion over the next five years, with approximately one-third allocated to procuring medical equipment and developing health technology.
Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin said Indonesia would need an additional US$84 billion over five years - about three times its current healthcare budget - to match healthcare service standards comparable to neighbouring Malaysia.
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'This is the right time to act. Let us build a resilient and modern Indonesian healthcare system together,' he said in a statement on Thursday, emphasising the need for technology-driven solutions to ensure the system remains robust and responsive.
The Health Ministry said Indonesia is undergoing a critical healthcare transformation, with medical technology such as the PCSK9 inhibitor - a next-generation cholesterol-lowering injection - playing a key role in building a resilient and sustainable system amid fiscal constraints.
Budi Gunadi said the drug would be rolled out to 500 hospitals nationwide, providing a more efficient alternative to traditional therapies that require daily administration.
"The PCSK9 drug is a game-changer, and just one example of the many medical innovations we can adopt,' he said.
-- BERNAMA
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