Two hospitals in Indonesia showcase Taiwan’s soft power by improving the population’s health outcome.
One day last June Indonesian president Joko Widodo and a range of other officials and dignitaries attended the official launch of Jakarta-based Tzu Chi Hospital (TCH). The ceremony was largely a formality as the hospital, whose founding was initiated by the local chapter of Taiwan-headquartered Buddhist charity Tzu Chi Foundation, opened its doors to the public two years prior in a trial run that saved numerous lives and alleviated the suffering of countless others. “The hospital finally discovered the real cause of my asthma and prescribed appropriate treatment to lessen my symptoms,” said Lani Muliana, who had sought help elsewhere in vain before receiving a thorough examination at TCH last spring.
With 576 beds and cutting-edge equipment, the hospital is the latest contribution in Indonesia by Tzu Chi, which has provided aid in the country for three decades. The facility is expected to further strengthen bilateral ties with Taiwan via medical exchanges. Local volunteers provide a comforting atmosphere at Tzu Chi health facilities and supplement the 200 doctors and over 300 nurses on staff at the Jakarta location.
Cut Above
According to TCH Superintendent Dr. Gunawan Susanto, the institution’s bone marrow transplant center particularly sets it apart from other hospitals in the country. Patients with leukemia and other blood disorders previously had to fly to countries like Singapore for expensive treatments that many struggled to afford, but today they can seek therapy in their home country at far more affordable rates.
Dr. Chen Yih-sharng, right, a cardiovascular expert from National Taiwan University Hospital in Taipei City, shares his experience with heart transplants during a visit to Jakarta’s National Cardiovascular Center Harapan Kita. (Courtesy of National Taiwan University Hospital's International Medical Service Center)
The same is true of other cancer treatments. “Though we have state-of-the-art equipment for diagnosing and treating complicated conditions, seeing a doctor at TCH isn’t more expensive than at other medical centers in Indonesia,” the superintendent said, adding that the hospital may receive partial coverage of bone marrow transplants from the country’s national health insurance in the future to further lessen the financial burden on patients.
Another area where TCH stands out is hospice care. Susanto said professional services providing end-of-life care for terminally ill patients are still not mainstream in Indonesia, a trend his institution hopes to change. To this end, the hospital sends its medical personnel to Tzu Chi facilities in Taiwan for training in palliative care, as well as bone marrow transplants.
Partnering Up
Another health institution active in Indonesia is Taipei City’s National Taiwan University Hospital (NTUH). Rather than constructing a large-scale facility, Taiwan’s most prestigious medical institution focuses on cooperative relationships with counterparts in the Southeast Asian country. NTUH began exploring potential ties in 2012, signing its first official pact two years later with Dr. Cipto Mangunkusumo Hospital in Jakarta.
A total of 16 Indonesian facilities, 15 of which are located on the most populous island of Java, have since signed agreements with NTUH whereby the two sides facilitate medical personnel exchanges for training and organize academic seminars. “They also work together on difficult cases, and sometimes Indonesian patients are flown to Taiwan for treatment,” said Dr. Chu Chia-yu (朱家瑜), CEO of NTUH’s International Medical Service Center.
NTUH’s endeavors in Indonesia received a major boost when Taiwan’s Ministry of Health and Welfare launched the One Country, One Center initiative in 2018 to deepen medical partnerships in five Southeast Asian countries and India. The program offered additional funding for the hospital’s existing operations, expanding their scope. In one example, NTUH was able to increase the annual number of Indonesian medical professionals for whom it provided on-the-job training from four to 30.
Professionals from NRCPH visit NTUH for training. (Courtesy of NTUH's International Medical Service Center)
Real Difference
Substantial results have been achieved through such partnerships. After years of personnel exchanges between NTUH and the department of physical medicine and rehabilitation at Dr. Cipto Mangunkusumo Hospital, the Indonesian facility has made great strides, especially in clinical applications for soft tissue ultrasound. Other agreements have led to the Taiwan hospital consulting with Dr. Sardjito General Hospital in Yogyakarta as it designs its children’s hospital slated for completion in 2024, as well as helping Jakarta’s National Cardiovascular Center Harapan Kita and National Respiratory Center Persahabatan Hospital establish heart and lung transplant capabilities.
“NTUH is one of the best hospitals in Asia and its cardiology experts have much to share,” said Dr. Iwan Dakota, head of the cardiovascular center. “Through our cooperation, we expedite the adoption of more effective and less costly clinical pathways.” According to Dakota, heart disease is the second-leading cause of death in Indonesia and incurs more expense than any other illness.
Between NTUH’s collaborative projects and TCH in Jakarta, Taiwan’s reputation for humanitarian assistance in the international arena is stronger while the country develops deeper ties with Indonesia. “Medical diplomacy is about improving people’s health and well-being,” NTUH’s Chu said. “It demonstrates how Taiwan is making a constructive difference abroad and enhances its soft power by directly affecting the well-being of the masses.”
Write to Oscar Chung at mhchung@mofa.gov.tw