Jakarta, Feb. 26 -- Indonesia is modernizing and integrating three state-owned hospitals with support from the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), in what Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin on Thursday called a long-term investment in human capital and future productivity.

"The best investment that provides the highest return is investing in people. That means investing in education and health infrastructure," Sadikin said.

The project covers Harapan Kita Mother and Child Hospital, Dharmais Cancer Hospital and Harapan Kita Cardiovascular Hospital.

Sadikin said many child patients treated at the facilities suffer from conditions such as Down syndrome, leukemia and type 1 diabetes, some of them chronic.

He noted that such illn...