Member of Commission IX of the House of Representatives (DPR RI), Netty Prasetiyani Aher, urged the government to immediately accelerate the distribution and improvement of pediatric cardiac surgery service facilities in Indonesia. This step is considered urgent to reduce infant mortality due to Congenital Heart Disease (CHD), which is estimated to claim around 6,000 lives every year due to limited access to medical procedures.
Based on Ministry of Health data, out of approximately 4.8 million births per year in the country, there is a potential for 48,000 babies to be born with CHD. Out of this number, as many as 12,000 babies require immediate surgery. However, the capacity of existing health facilities is currently only able to handle half of it, which is around 6,000 cases per year.
This wide gap between the need for medical treatment and the availability of services is the main focus of the legislature. According to Netty, early detection or health screening in newborns will not be effective if it is not balanced with the readiness of curative facilities such as operating rooms and the availability of adequate medical personnel.
The PKS politician also emphasized the importance of long-term investment in health human resources. She encouraged the acceleration of education for pediatric cardiac specialists and subspecialists, as well as specialized supporting staff such as perfusionists and cardiac nurses to address service disparities in various regions.
Finally, improving the patient referral system is also considered crucial so that geographical constraints, bureaucracy, and long waiting lists are no longer obstacles for babies with heart disorders to receive emergency assistance quickly and equitably.
