A member of Commission IX of the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR RI), Netty Prasetiyani Aher, emphasized that the main challenge facing Indonesia's health sector today is not merely the quantity of medical personnel, but the striking disparity in their distribution. According to her, improvements in the governance of healthcare workers must be carried out immediately so that people in remote areas gain access to services equal to those in major cities.
The government is expected to formulate more strategic planning for healthcare workers by mapping out real needs in each region. Netty highlighted that deploying doctors to remote areas cannot rely solely on mandatory assignment systems; it must be accompanied by attractive incentives, clear career pathways, and adequate supporting facilities to improve the welfare of medical personnel.
Regarding health infrastructure development, she urged the government to rely on comprehensive studies. Future construction of hospitals and procurement of medical equipment should be tailored to real on-the-ground needs to prevent the waste of underutilized facilities. Netty also welcomed the integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) into the healthcare system, but stressed that such technology is merely a supporting tool that will not replace the crucial role of doctors in clinical decision-making and ethical aspects.
Furthermore, she encouraged a shift in health financing paradigms to place greater emphasis on promotive and preventive efforts alongside rising life expectancy. Strengthening primary healthcare services and early detection of chronic diseases are key to keeping the population productive. Additionally, implementing transparent and accountable medical audits was proposed as an instrument to maintain service quality standards and provide protection for healthcare workers.
In conclusion, Netty stressed that an equitable health system reform requires cross-sector synergy, ranging from the central government to academia. Solid collaboration is seen as the key to realizing quality and equitable healthcare access for all Indonesian people.
