Dhaka has set a model for disaster management, says Minister
The Indonesian Health Minister, Dr Endang Rahaya Sedyaningsih, has said that her country wants to import more quality drugs from Bangladesh and that it is mulling over ways to set up joint ventures with leading Bangladeshi drug manufacturers.
The visiting dignitary was talking to The Independent in an exclusive interview in Dhaka. She is leading a six-member delegation to the International Autistic Conference being held here.
The Indonesian minister spoke highly of several Bangladeshi companies, including Beximco Pharma. She said that on her return home she would formulate a policy under which Jakarta-Dhaka joint ventures could be set up for producing drugs.
The Indonesian Ambassador to Bangladesh, Zet Mirzal Zainuddin, who was present during the interview, said his country imported Bangladeshi medicines worth USD 4,00,000 in one year alone.
Dr Rahaya expressed her country’s desire to export vaccines for various diseases to Bangladesh. She is keen on cooperation between Indonesia and Bangladesh in the field of disaster management. “I’m surprised how Bangladesh has succeeded in mitigating disasters, setting a model for countries like Indonesia to follow,” said Dr Rahaya. Indonesia suffers from natural disasters like tsunami, earthquakes and floods. “We need Bangladeshi expertise to mitigate the sufferings of our people,” she said. She would direct the agencies concerned to chalk out the framework of such cooperation with Bangladesh.
Dr Rahaya said poor health is both a cause and consequence of poverty. Poverty forces people to live in places without decent shelter, clean water or good sanitation. Poverty creates hunger, which leaves people vulnerable to disease. Poverty denies people access to reliable health services and affordable medicine. Poverty can leave people unaware about health risks. Indonesia has made progress in improving its healthcare system and the health of its people. Life expectancy of Indonesians has increased to 71 years, a significant improvement from what it was in 1990.
But Indonesia still faces many challenges in its health sector, including shortage of health workers. In 2006, there were an estimated 20 general practitioners per 100,000 Indonesians and the ratio of midwives was 35 for every 100,000. There are far less health workers in remote and rural areas, she admitted.
“Indonesia and Bangladesh can cooperate in the health sector”, the minister said. Bangladeshis can visit Indonesia for advanced medical treatment as they go to Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia and India.
“We’re ready to invite Bangladeshi entrepreneurs to set up world class hospitals in Indonesia”, Dr Rahaya said.
-With The Independent input
