Indonesia seeks Tokushukai's cooperation in unified management of 60 hospitals
On 29 July, the first day of Tokushukai's healthcare management strategy seminar, Edwin Hidayat Abdullah, Deputy Minister at Indonesia's Ministry of State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs), and Dany Amrul Ichdan, President of Indonesia Healthcare Corporation (IHC), spoke on a new era in Indonesian healthcare. IHC has requested Tokushukai's cooperation in developing efficient systems for operating hospitals owned by SOEs. Tokushukai intends to provide support.
Deputy Minister Abdullah: “We want to work towards becoming the best hospital chain”
In his opening remarks, dialysis committee chair Shuzo Kobayashi, Deputy Director of Shonan Kamakura General Hospital in Kanagawa, said: “Some people tell patients about to start dialysis that they are unfortunate, but I disagree. Starting dialysis is not the end of life. There are limitations, but it begins a new life of eating well, staying active and taking on new challenges.” He encouraged discussion of the fundamentals: thorough safety management based on Japanese Society for Dialysis Therapy guidelines, adequate dialysis and nutrition, and helping patients broaden their lives.
SOE hospitals previously operated independently under their parent enterprises. To improve care and management efficiency, national policy has shifted them to unified management. IHC, established in March, is responsible for overseeing the hospital group.
IHC manages 60 hospitals owned by 14 SOEs in sectors including oil, gas and steel, with a combined total of about 6,500 beds.
Hisamune Honma, Head of Clinical Engineering at Shonai Amarume Hospital in Yamagata and chair of Tokushukai's clinical engineering committee, asked participants to confirm their position. They unanimously agreed to proceed. A project team will be formed within the dialysis committee and meet about monthly. After specifications are finalised, a pilot hospital could begin trial operation as early as the end of the year.
President Ichdan: “This is a major challenge for Indonesia”
The Indonesian government is working to improve access to healthcare and quality of care by 2019. Unifying SOE hospital management is part of this effort. Work began two years ago, and IHC was established in March this year to take over the new structure.
Managing many hospitals together and benefiting from their scale requires substantial expertise. IHC therefore asked Tokushukai, which operates many hospitals and nursing care and welfare facilities, to help develop efficient management arrangements. Tokushukai intends to support the initiative.
Abdullah said: “Improving the quality of care and making hospital operations more efficient are both essential. With Tokushukai's help, we want our hospitals to work together so that IHC can become the best hospital chain in the country.”
Indonesia introduced universal health coverage in 2014. According to Ichdan, 107 million people are currently enrolled, and further expansion is planned.
“Until now, each hospital has operated under its parent company with its own culture. Strong leadership is now needed to improve efficiency, including unified procurement of medical equipment. This is a major challenge for Indonesia,” Ichdan said. He concluded that the aim is not only to allow Indonesians to receive world-class care without travelling abroad, but also to create a hospital group chosen by medical tourists from other countries.
Source: Tokushukai Newspaper, 7 August 2017, No. 1094