Jakarta. President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo wants Indonesians to seek medical treatment in the country, particularly in the future capital, as work is underway to build the city’s healthcare infrastructure.

Indonesia on Wednesday began the construction of the government-owned Central General Hospital in the new capital Nusantara, East Kalimantan. This follows the groundbreaking ceremonies by three private hospitals, namely Mayapada, Abdi Waluyo, and Hermina. Three more private hospitals are also lining up to start the construction in Nusantara, according to Jokowi. 

“[Investors] are swarming into Nusantara to build hospitals here,” Jokowi said at the groundbreaking ceremony of the Central General Hospital on Wednesday.

“Once the hospitals finish construction, I hope our citizens no longer feel the need to go to Malaysia, Singapore, Japan, or the US for medical treatment. Hopefully, they can get their treatment in Indonesia, particularly Nusantara,” Jokowi said.

The Central General Hospital will focus on treating heart diseases and stroke.

According to Jokowi, the green city concept that Nusanatara is embracing should also help with the patient’s recovery.

Indonesia has been losing money as people favor getting medical services overseas. Jokowi not long ago revealed that as many as 2 million Indonesians go abroad for medical treatment every year. This has caused a capital outflow of almost Rp 100 trillion (around $6.4 billion).

The Central General Hospital is part of the third-phase groundbreaking which will go on until Thursday. The third-phase groundbreaking will also include property development, electrical transportation, and reforestation. In total, the investment for this phase is worth approximately Rp 10 trillion, according to Nusantara’s authority body. 

The Abdi Waluyo hospital in Nusantara is a Rp 2 trillion project and will provide sub-specialist treatments. Mayapada is investing Rp 500 billion to build a hospital --as well as a dormitory for the health workers--in the new capital. The Mayapada Hospital will provide treatments for heart diseases, stroke, and orthopedics, among others. The Hermina Hospital, whose constructions cost approximately Rp 650 billion, will also include a trauma center. Jokowi did not say how much the government would spend to build the Central General Hospital in Nusantara.

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