Jakarta, Nov. 7 -- To fill the gaps in healthcare workers, the Indonesian government is shifting its approach from deploying personnel from other regions to educating local youth to serve their own hometowns.

Ministry of Health data as of August 2026 shows that 38 percent of community health centers (puskesmas) remain understaffed, lacking a full complement of nine core medical and health personnel roles, with a total deficit of 6,927 workers.

Deputy Minister of Health Benjamin Paulus Octavianus presented the figure at the 2nd National Forum of the Indonesian Health Council (KKI) 2026 late last month, which also marked the council's second anniversary.

The nine essential roles comprise doctors, dentists, nurses, midwives, public health...