The Minister of Health (Menkes) of Pakistan, Syed Mustafa Kamal, accompanied by the Head of the Pakistan Drug Regulatory Authority, Obaidullah and the Pakistani Ambassador to Indonesia, Zahid Hafeez Chaundhri, paid a visit to Indonesia on January 19-20, 2026. This visit was in the context of an in-depth discussion regarding Universal Health Coverage (UHC) and reviewing primary health care services and vaccine production facilities in Indonesia.
This visit also served as a follow-up to the bilateral meeting between the Indonesian Minister of Health and the Pakistani Deputy Minister of Health mid-last year, during which the Pakistani Deputy Minister expressed his desire to collaborate in the vaccine sector. The meeting then led to a meeting between the Indonesian and Pakistani Ministers of Health, which led to the signing and exchange of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on health between Indonesia and Pakistan. The ceremony was witnessed by the President of Indonesia and the Prime Minister of Pakistan in December 2025.
To observe vaccine production firsthand, the Pakistani Health Minister's delegation visited Biofarma, accompanied by Lucia Rizka Andalusia, Director General of Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices, and Harditya Suryawanto, Head of the Center for Global Health Strategy and Governance, Policy. Since 2025, Biofarma has been Pakistan's largest polio vaccine supplier through UNICEF. Due to Pakistan's inadequate vaccine production, Pakistan has requested Indonesia's support in developing vaccine production through a collaboration with Biofarma.
Welcomed by Biofarma President Director Shadiq Akasya and the board of directors, the group was guided to the vaccine production laboratory and the vaccine distribution monitoring room / Command centerAfter observing the vaccine production and distribution process firsthand, the group continued with a discussion to determine which vaccines Pakistan would like to produce in the future.
The following day, a visit was made to the Tebet Community Health Center. The Pakistani Health Minister's delegation was welcomed by the Director General of Primary and Community Health, Maria Endang Sumiwi; the Director of Primary Health Care Governance, Elvieda Sariwati; the Head of the Center for Global Health Strategy and Governance, Harditya Suryawanto; the Acting Head of the Tebet Community Health Center, Kristiani Dwi Hastuti; and the Head of the Health Promotion Program, Asri Yunita, at the Jakarta Provincial Health Office.
The group was guided by Ajeng Sekartini, a general practitioner at the Tebet Community Health Center. Ajeng explained that the Tebet Community Health Center has implemented an electronic medical records system, known as e-Puskesmas. This system is integrated with the SATU SEHAT system and has been adapted to the implementation of Primary Service Integration (ILP).
After showing the patient registration flow, the group was then directed to see several services available at the Tebet Health Center, such as laboratory, immunization, maternal and child health, dental and oral health, and eldery care.
Health Minister Syed Mustafa expressed his delight at seeing firsthand the services at the Tebet Community Health Center. He praised the primary healthcare system on display as a leading example of Indonesia's best.
"It's truly an honor for us to observe the primary healthcare system in Jakarta. It's truly impressive to see all of this. The Indonesian Ministry of Health has done an excellent job. This primary healthcare system is a role model not only for Jakarta, but for all regions in Indonesia," he said on Tuesday (January 20).
Health Minister Syed Mustafa stated that Pakistan has a population of 250 million, with a child population of 61,619 million. This large population must be balanced by a robust and robust healthcare system capable of addressing major diseases. He explained that if Pakistan's healthcare system deteriorates, it could threaten the country's economic and security crises, as was the case during the COVID-19 pandemic.
"As fellow Muslim nations, Indonesia is our brother. We are proud to see your country developing in the right direction. We have much to learn from you. We came here to observe firsthand and learn from Indonesia's experience," said Health Minister Syed Mustafa.
From his visit to two national facilities in Indonesia, the Pakistani Minister of Health hopes that cooperation between Indonesia and Pakistan in the health sector will be further strengthened.
(Author: Kurniatun Karomah, Editor: Pusjak STKKG)
