Deputy Minister of Health Dante Saksono Harbuwono, on Wednesday, inaugurated the new “ventricle building” of the Harapan Kita National Heart Center in Jakarta as a step to transform cardiac services in Indonesia.

“This ventricle building innovation is part of the Harapan Kita National Heart Center’s step, as a guardian hospital, in transforming cardiac services in Indonesia through three aspects,” Harbuwono remarked during the soft launch event here on Wednesday.

The minister noted that the three aspects are increasing service capacity, enhancing implementation capacity at the cardiovascular nursing or treatment, and improving management capabilities in cardiac services by presenting cardiovascular medicine technology.

Harbuwono stressed that heart disease is a global health threat. In Indonesia, 651,481 people died of heart disease every year, with ailments varying from coronary heart disease to hypertensive heart disease, and others.

He also highlighted congenital heart disease in newly born babies that necessitated attention. According to the ministry, as many as 10,500 infants are born with congenital heart disease every year.

“Heart disease (requires) the largest funding in the country’s health sector, with a total of Rp8.74 trillion in 2021. Hence, we need to transform cardiac services, one of which is through the Harapan Kita National Heart Center as a hospital that guards (other hospitals) in cardiac services,” he explained.

He said that investment in the construction of a ventricle building amounted to Rp674 billion.

After the establishment of the ventricle building, cooperation with global institutions, such as UCLA Health and Clifton Clinic, should be explored, to bolster the country’s cardiac health services.

“We hope that the collaboration would be realized through the development of the Harapan Kita National Heart Center that can be more optimal, more integrated, and more thorough and holistic,” the deputy minister remarked.

Source: Antara News