6.9% of Indonesian Community Health Centers (Puskesmas) Lack Doctors, Most in Eastern Indonesia

The Ministry of Health reports that 6.9% of community health centers (puskesmas) lack doctors, with the highest percentage in Eastern Indonesia.

Papua recorded the highest percentage of puskesmas without doctors at 48.18%, followed by West Papua at 42.1%. Other provinces with high percentages include Maluku (23.5%), and East Nusa Tenggara (23.2%).

This is followed by Southeast Sulawesi (18.2%), North Maluku (16.4%), Gorontalo (12.9%), and Central Kalimantan (10.8%). South Sumatra (9.3%) and Central Sulawesi (7.7%) also reported significant shortages.

In contrast, all puskesmas in Bali, Yogyakarta Special Region, Central Java, Bangka Belitung Islands, and Jakarta have doctors. Provinces with nearly all puskesmas having doctors include Banten (0.4%), Jambi (0.5%), and West Java (0.6%).

This data reveals an uneven distribution of doctors in Indonesian puskesmas. Therefore, the Ministry of Health is striving to improve the distribution of health workers, especially doctors, through the Nusantara Sehat program. This program is implemented by teams and individuals.

Even distribution of doctors aims to ensure that the public can easily access quality healthcare services. Easy access to healthcare is expected to improve the overall health of the population.