Indonesia, Saudi Arabia Sign MoU to Strengthen Health Sector Cooperation
Jakarta, The Gulf Observer: The health ministries of Indonesia and Saudi Arabia have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) aimed at enhancing human resource (HR) capacity through exchanges and training, as well as facilitating the exchange of digital vaccine certificates. The agreement was formalized in Jakarta on Monday in the presence of Indonesian Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin and Saudi Arabian Health Minister Fahd Abdulrahman Al-Jalajel.
Following the signing ceremony, Minister Sadikin emphasized that the collaboration will enable an exchange of HR and expertise between the two nations. The initiative involves several Indonesian universities, including Gadjah Mada University (UGM), Muhammadiyah University of Yogyakarta (UMY), and Nahdlatul Ulama University of Surabaya (UNUSA), alongside Saudi Arabia’s Health Holding Company.
The program is expected to support knowledge transfer, with Indonesian doctors and nurses receiving training in Saudi Arabia. “We need this program to improve our education standards and health services with insights from Saudi Arabia,” Sadikin stated.
In addition to HR development, the agreement includes the exchange of digital vaccine certificates to streamline the immigration process for Indonesian pilgrims undertaking Umrah and Hajj. Sadikin highlighted that the initiative will significantly reduce wait times at immigration checkpoints, where vaccine certificates are currently verified.
As part of the collaboration, Minister Al-Jalajel is scheduled to visit Biofarma, Indonesia’s leading vaccine manufacturer, to assess the country’s vaccine production capabilities. The visit aligns with a broader commitment to ensuring equitable vaccine production across developing regions, including Africa, East Asia, the Middle East, Indonesia, South Asia, and South America.
“In the event of another pandemic, we must have adequate capacity to produce vaccines for the global population,” Sadikin affirmed.
Minister Al-Jalajel also underscored that Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 prioritizes enhancing healthcare services through efficiency and innovation. “During this visit, Saudi health companies have signed four agreements related to manpower and training to strengthen the healthcare workforce in both nations,” he stated.
The ministers expressed optimism about expanding bilateral cooperation in the health sector, including the implementation of the Biofarma agreement, scheduled for February 25.
Earlier, the Indonesian Ministry of Health and the King Salman Center for Humanitarian and Social Assistance (KS Relief) collaborated to perform 38 operations for congenital heart disease cases, further demonstrating the deepening partnership between the two nations in healthcare.
