Denpasar, 25 February 2022 –
Indonesian Minister of Health Budi Gunadi Sadikin together with Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan on Friday, February 25 ensured that health facilities in Bali are ready to support the G20 presidency events. According to the Minister of Health, Bali's health infrastructures, especially hospitals and medical personnel, are ready.
Minister of Health Budi stated that there are 400,000 treatment beds available in hospitals across the country, with 30% of those reserved for COVID-19 treatment.
"A total of 30% of 400 thousand equals 120 treatment beds. Only 30% of treatment beds are allocated since the remainder is for the treatment of other patients suffering from other ailments such as heart disease, cancer, and renal failure," he stated on Friday, February 25, during a visit to Sanglah Hospital in Denpasar, Bali.
Only 38 thousand of the 120 thousand beds earmarked for COVID-19 treatment have been filled until now. In reality, COVID-19 cases in Indonesia, particularly the Omicron variant, have already surpassed the peak of the Delta variant, which has required treatment rooms with a capacity of 100,000.
"The peak of cases of the Omicron variant is now higher than the peak of the Delta variant, yet the hospital treatment room occupancy is only 38 thousand. This means that the demand for hospital treatment rooms is presently significantly lower than when the Delta version was at its peak, thus I am not too worried about hospital demand during the G20 meetings," Budi said.
Coordinating Minister Luhut praised the health sector's preparation for the G20 presidency. The Ministry of Health is preparing not only for G20 events but also for the COVID-19 pandemic in general.
"Sanglah Hospital facilities are ready. Currently, our administration and the Ministry of Health are in talks about preparing expert doctors. For the G20, preparations must be completed in June," said Luhut.
Dr. I Wayan Sudana, Director of Sanglah Hospital, stated that Sanglah Hospital is one of the vertical hospitals classified as class A by the Ministry of Health. The Joint Commission International (JCI) has recognized this hospital's international standards, while the Hospital Accreditation Commission (KARS) has accredited its national standards.
"Thus, there is no need to doubt the quality of service offered to serve the attendees of the G20 summit who may need health services," he stated.
He went on to say that Sanglah Hospital currently has 706 beds. A total of 154 beds have been earmarked for COVID-19 patients, with the maximum occupancy of that number being roughly 46 beds.
He further explained that since the surge in cases of the Delta variant, Sanglah Hospital has prepared 300 treatment beds.
In addition to health facilities, his party has prepared 366 specialized and sub-specialist doctors. Specifically, for the G20 presidency, he also prepared specialists in internal medicine, surgery, cardiology, and anesthesiology, as well as skilled nursing workers with competencies that meet worldwide nursing standards.
"We are not only involving Sanglah Hospital, but also Bali Mandara Hospital and other private hospitals, such as Siloam Hospital," he explained.
