Medan, 10 July 2026 — The Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Sumatera Utara (FK USU), received an official delegation from UPTD RSUD Simeulue on Friday, 10 July 2026, at the Dean's Office on the 2nd Floor of FK USU. The meeting focused on strategic efforts to address the shortage of specialist physicians at UPTD RSUD Simeulue—the main referral hospital in Simeulue Regency—and to strengthen collaboration to improve healthcare services in Indonesia's frontier, outermost, and underdeveloped (3T) regions.
The delegation was led by Mahmud Riad, S.Kep., Director of UPTD RSUD Simeulue, and was received by the Dean of FK USU, Dr. dr. Muara Panusunan Lubis, M.Ked(OG), Sp.O.G., Subsp.K.Fm., accompanied by the Vice Dean for Research, Community Service, Collaboration, and Internationalization, Prof. Dr. dr. Dina Keumala Sari, M.Gizi., Sp.GK., Subsp.PK, the Head of the Working Team for Specialist Medical Education Programs (TKP-PPDS), Dr. dr. Almaycano Ginting, M.Kes., M.Ked(Clin.Path)., Sp.PK, along with other faculty representatives. The meeting was held in a constructive atmosphere, focusing on strengthening collaboration between FK USU and UPTD RSUD Simeulue to improve access to specialist healthcare services for communities living in island regions.
During the meeting, Mahmud Riad explained that RSUD Simeulue is currently experiencing critical shortages of specialist physicians in several key disciplines, including Psychiatry (Sp.KJ), Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (Sp.KFR), and Radiology (Sp.Rad). These shortages have resulted in an increasing number of patient referrals outside the region, limitations in providing comprehensive medical services, and challenges in meeting the government's Minimum Service Standards (SPM) for healthcare.
As an island regency classified as one of Indonesia's 3T (Frontier, Outermost, and Underdeveloped) regions, Simeulue faces significant challenges in delivering specialist healthcare services. Its geographical isolation from the mainland means that access to referral hospitals requires considerably longer travel times and is highly dependent on both sea and air transportation.
Through this meeting, RSUD Simeulue requested FK USU's support in facilitating the provision of specialist physicians through various possible mechanisms, including temporary specialist assignments, visiting specialist services, and the placement of Specialist Medical Education Program (PPDS) residents in accordance with applicable regulations. Both institutions also explored opportunities to strengthen institutional collaboration between RSUD Simeulue and FK USU to establish a more resilient and sustainable healthcare system.
This meeting reflects FK USU's commitment to expanding its partnerships with regional governments in support of improving healthcare services across Indonesia. As a leading medical education institution that continuously produces specialist physicians, FK USU is dedicated to providing practical solutions to the unequal distribution of healthcare professionals by strengthening collaboration with hospitals and local governments, particularly in island communities and other 3T regions.
Through this strengthened partnership, it is expected that the shortage of specialist physicians at RSUD Simeulue can be addressed progressively, enabling the local community to enjoy more equitable, high-quality, and sustainable healthcare services. This collaboration also supports the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being) by improving access to quality healthcare services, and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals) by strengthening collaboration between higher education institutions and regional governments to build a resilient and inclusive healthcare system.