Pontianak, W Kalimantan (ANTARA) - President Joko Widodo called on people not to go abroad seeking for medical treatment, whereas the government had built modern hospitals in the regions they can cater to the public.
"I am very sad to hear that there are people in our country, who fell sick and sought treatment overseas, and for West Kalimantan, there are still many who seek treatment from neighboring countries. Starting today, do not go abroad for treatment anymore, because West Kalimantan already has modern hospitals that can cater to the public," the president stated after inaugurating the Soedarso Regional Hospital in Pontianak on Tuesday.
Jokowi said the central and regional governments had worked together to build the Soedarso Hospital Building with modern equipment.
"Earlier, I checked all the conditions of the rooms in this new building. The Soedarso Hospital building has been built using the West Kalimantan Regional Budget since 2019. It has two towers, with six floors each. We have prepared medical equipment in the building at a cost of more than Rp200 billion," he elaborated.
The head of state noted that the Soedarso Hospital Building had 277 beds and 14 operating rooms. Moreover, the brand-new hospital building was also equipped with ICU, NICU, PICU, and ICCU rooms.
West Kalimantan Governor Sutarmidji conceived the idea of developing the new Soedarso Hospital building, as he was keen that a better hospital be built in West Kalimantan.
This development in the medical sector was also part of the efforts to boost the Human Development Index (HDI).
"I also strongly support the policy of the West Kalimantan provincial government that will handle the operation of the hospital without (discrimination), so that all people get the same, (high) quality services. Hopefully, this hospital would offer great benefits for West Kalimantan's people, so that they do not seek treatment overseas again," President Jokowi concluded.
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