Indonesian Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin and Saudi Arabian Health Minister Fahd Abdulrahman Al-Jalajel have formalised a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at enhancing human resource (HR) capacity of the healthcare sector through exchanges and training, as well as facilitating the exchange of digital vaccine certificates.
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 programme is expected to support knowledge transfer, with Indonesian doctors and nurses receiving training in Saudi Arabia. "We need this programme to improve our education standards and health service from Saudi Arabia," Sadikin stressed.
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. Minister Al-Jalajel is scheduled to visit Biofarma, Indonesia’s leading vaccine manufacturer, to assess the country’s vaccine production capabilities.
