Jakarta, 15 July 2026 - Shortage of health care workers, the lack of specialist doctors, and the concentration of medical personnel in urban areas remain challenges in the Indonesian healthcare system. The mismatch between the high number of medical graduates and the lack of equitable job placement results in suboptimal access to healthcare services for people in rural areas.
To untangle this challenge, the Ministry of Health and the World Health Organization (WHO) are developing strategic solutions through a comprehensive evaluation of national healthcare workforce data, known as the Health Labor Market Analysis (HLMA), in Jakarta, 15-16 July 2026.
The Director General of Human Resources for Health at the Ministry of Health, Dr Yuli Farianti, M.Epid., stated that this real-world data evaluation is crucial to ensure that future medical workforce placement policies are truly targeted and oriented towards the needs of the community.
"This evaluation helps us not only focus on the number of healthcare workers we have, but also ensure their competencies are appropriate and that they are placed in locations where they are truly needed," explained Yuli in a press release delivered in Jakarta (15/7).
Meanwhile, Bonanza Perwira Taihitu, Expert Staff to the Minister for Politics and Globalization of Health, emphasized that the Ministry of Health cannot solve the healthcare workforce shortage crisis alone.
"Strengthening human resources is a top priority for Health Transformation. This requires cross-sector collaboration, from local governments, universities, hospitals, professional organizations, and international partners," said Bonanza.
WHO Representative to Indonesia, Dr N. Paranietharan, added that Indonesia's evaluation steps are in line with global efforts. Many countries are currently adapting their healthcare systems to respond to population changes and new technologies.
"This data-driven effort (HLMA) will ensure that healthcare services in Indonesia remain accessible, effective, and responsive to the needs of the community in the future," said Paranietharan.
All findings and recommendations from this evaluation will form the main foundation for the development of the 2026–2035 Health Human Resources Blueprint. This document will serve as a long-term policy direction for regulating everything from planning and education to employment and distribution of medical personnel throughout the country.
The policy dialogue forum, which discussed this crucial issue, was attended by representatives from the WHO Regional Office for the Western Pacific (WPRO), international experts, academics, relevant ministries/institutions, local governments, professional organizations, and various development partners.