KBRN, Jakarta: In a bid to elevate the nation’s standing in global healthcare and research, the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, and Technology (Diktisaintek) reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening collaboration among State University Hospitals (RSPTN). The initiative is part of the ministry’s broader strategy to enhance education, research, and medical services under the Diktisaintek Berdampak (Impactful Diktisaintek) mission.

The announcement was made during the 2025 National Congress of the Association of State University Hospitals (ARSPTN) and the 6th Annual RSPTN Meeting, hosted by the University of Indonesia Hospital (RSUI) and UI Dental and Oral Hospital (RSKGM) on Saturday, October 4, 2025.

The forum served as a platform for the ministry to promote impactful RSPTN development through integrated research, innovation, and the adoption of cutting-edge health technologies. The ministry envisions RSPTN as centers of excellence that bridge academic rigor with real-world medical service.

Minister of Higher Education, Science, and Technology, Brian Yuliarto, emphasized the importance of collaboration in advancing national priorities. “Healthcare is a unique field, rich in data. We should be leading internationally. Our medical professionals and teaching hospitals must be filled with the nation’s best talents,” he said, as quoted by kemditisaintek.go.id.

“Indonesia’s equatorial position and disease profile offer comparative advantages. I urge you to push forward with research and innovation, becoming a locomotive for other scientific disciplines,” the Minister added.

Minister Brian also called for RSPTN to evolve into open laboratories, not only for medicine but also for fields like physics engineering, mechanical engineering, and beyond. Through interdisciplinary collaboration, the ministry hopes to spur breakthroughs in medical instrumentation, reduce reliance on imported health products, harness big data in health research, and develop AI-driven healthcare technologies.

“RSPTN must become champions, world-class hospitals. They should collaborate with institutions like Harvard, NUS, and other global universities,” Brian added. He urged ARSPTN to develop a roadmap for health research and innovation, which will be fully supported through flagship programs at the ministry.

Setiawan, Secretary of the Directorate General of Higher Education, echoed the minister’s vision. “We hope this meeting will strengthen collaboration among RSPTN to support our programs in accelerating specialist and subspecialist education, as well as boosting research and innovation,” he said, noting promising products already in development.

ARSPTN Chair Nasronudin highlighted the untapped potential of university hospitals. “RSPTN holds immense promise. If optimized, they can make a significant contribution to the nation,” he said.

Through the implementation of the Tridharma (Three Pillars) of Higher Education, RSPTN plays a strategic role in service-based medical education, practice-rooted research such as robotics and stem cell studies, and flexible support for government policies and public needs.

Aligned with President Prabowo Subianto’s Asta Cita program, the ministry aims for RSPTN to achieve international competitiveness within the next 3–5 years. A revitalization program set to begin in 2026 will provide equipment, infrastructure, and support for translational research, targeting a reduction in Indonesia’s 93 percent dependency on imported medical devices and pharmaceuticals.

The ministry is calling on universities, medical professionals, researchers, industry players, and local administrations to join forces in strengthening RSPTN’s role. This collaboration is seen as key to curbing the annual IDR 187 trillion (USD 11.3 billion) outflow of healthcare spending abroad and positioning Indonesia as a world-class healthcare destination.

With coordinated efforts and strong partnerships, Indonesia is optimistic about building RSPTN into modern, globally recognized institutions, driving the emergence of a new generation of competent, innovative, and impactful medical professionals. ***