Indonesia Aims too Fill Global Nursing Shortage
With a global demand for nurses exceeding 6.4 million, Indonesia is stepping up to meet the need, presenting a important possibility for its healthcare workforce and economy.The Indonesian government is actively working to streamline regulations and enhance training programs to facilitate the placement of Indonesian nurses and healthcare professionals internationally.
The Indonesian Health Ministry and the Ministry of Protection of Indonesian Migrant Workers (P2MI) are collaborating to create a more efficient system for sending healthcare workers abroad. Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin highlighted the potential for improved quality of life for these workers,citing examples of Indonesian nurses earning ample salaries in countries like Japan (approximately $1,788 per month) and Germany (up to $2,981 per month).
“Though, we only send thousands of health workers (abroad). Less than 10 thousand,” Sadikin noted, emphasizing the need for significant expansion.
Currently, Indonesia boasts 38 health polytechnics under the Health Ministry’s purview.Despite this, only 2,000 healthcare workers have been placed abroad in the last five years – an average of just 400 annually. Minister Sadikin advocates for a substantial increase, aiming for 2,000 placements per year, eventually scaling up to 5,000 and even 10,000.
“If possible, I ask for an increase of two thousand per year, then up to five thousand and 10 thousand,” he stated.
P2MI Minister Abdul Kadir Karding underscored the importance of meeting global standards for migrant worker placement, particularly regarding health checks. The ministries are working to simplify these procedures,aligning them with international best practices.
“We are trying to simplify the procedures, similar to other countries. If other countries only require cholesterol and uric acid tests, we do not need to add more stuff,” Karding explained.
Further initiatives include standardizing health check prices across regions and developing a lasting financing model to avoid burdening prospective migrant workers. The focus on workforce preparation through health polytechnics is also being strengthened, with plans to specialize training for specific countries like Germany and Japan.
This initiative holds significant implications for the global healthcare landscape and offers a potential solution to the critical nursing shortage impacting many developed nations. The success of this program could serve as a model for other countries facing similar challenges.
