Jakarta. Indonesia will soon allow foreign hospitals to open branches and invest directly in the country, in a move aimed at improving healthcare quality and reducing the need for Indonesians to seek medical treatment abroad, Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin confirmed on Thursday.

Speaking during a parliamentary hearing with the House of Representatives’ Commission IX -- which oversees health, labor, and social security -- Budi said the policy reflects President Prabowo Subianto’s directive to prioritize better healthcare services for Indonesians.

“The president wants foreign hospitals to operate in Indonesia, to invest here so that public health can be better prioritized,” Budi told lawmakers.

The signal for this policy shift first emerged last week, when President Prabowo met with European Council President António Costa in Brussels. During the meeting, Prabowo revealed that under the soon-to-be-signed Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), European hospitals would be allowed to operate in Indonesia.

According to Budi, bringing foreign hospitals into Indonesia will make it easier for Indonesians to access high-quality, affordable healthcare without having to travel overseas for treatment -- often at much higher costs.

“Instead of traveling abroad, Indonesians will be able to access world-class healthcare within the country,” Budi said.

He added that foreign hospital operations would benefit local healthcare workers by creating new job opportunities.

“Foreign hospitals operating in Indonesia will employ local healthcare professionals. This will open up jobs for hundreds of thousands of healthcare workers in Indonesia,” Budi said.

Since taking office nine months ago, President Prabowo has increasingly welcomed international involvement in Indonesia’s strategic sectors. One recent example is the removal of restrictions on live cattle imports, aimed at boosting domestic meat and dairy production.