ISTANBUL

Indonesian President Joko Widodo said Wednesday that opening new hospitals will prevent Indonesians from seeking medical treatment abroad and flight from the capital. 

“Every year, nearly 1 million Indonesians seek medical treatment abroad, leading to a loss of up to $11.5 billion in foreign exchange,” Widodo said at a new Tzu Chi hospital opening in the nation’s capital of Jakarta.

Widodo said hospitals in the Southeast Asian nation “already possess modern and sophisticated equipment” but the majority of Indonesians are seeking treatment abroad for cancer, orthopedics, dentistry and cosmetic surgery.

“It is hoped that the presence of modern hospitals in the country will reduce the number of Indonesians seeking treatment overseas,” he said.

Widodo acknowledged the persisting issue of inadequate medical equipment while highlighting the intelligence and expertise of domestic doctors that match their overseas counterparts.

“Indonesian doctors are not of lower quality compared to their counterparts overseas,” he said.