Saudi Doctors Training Indonesian Colleagues in Child Heart Surgery and Expanding Access to Pediatric Cardiac Care

Saudi Doctors Train Indonesian Colleagues in Child Heart Surgery, Expand Access to Pediatric Cardiac Care

In a heartwarming collaboration, Saudi doctors are lending their expertise to train Indonesian colleagues in child heart surgery, helping to expand access to pediatric cardiac care in the country’s northwest.

A 22-member surgical team from Saudi Arabia arrived at Adam Malik Central General Hospital in Medan, North Sumatra province last month as part of a residence program arranged by Saudi aid agency KSrelief. The team began by performing free heart procedures on adult patients before switching their focus to children with congenital heart disease, a condition that often goes untreated in Indonesia due to a shortage of specialist wards.

Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin highlighted the urgent need for such collaboration, stating that only half of the estimated 12,000 Indonesian children born with heart disease each year receive treatment. The lack of capacity in Indonesian hospitals results in thousands of children being unable to access life-saving procedures, leading to tragic outcomes.

The Saudi team, consisting of surgeons, nurses, perfusionists, and respiratory therapists from prestigious medical centers in Jeddah and Riyadh, is working to transfer their knowledge and skills to Indonesian medical professionals. This initiative is part of Indonesia’s health system transformation plan, which aims to equip regional government hospitals with the capability to perform open-heart surgery and pediatric heart surgery.

For many families, like that of 15-year-old Binsar, the cost and distance to specialized hospitals in Jakarta have been major barriers to receiving necessary treatment. Binsar, who was diagnosed with a leaky heart valve five years ago, was operated on by the visiting Saudi team, bringing hope and relief to his family.

The collaborative efforts between Saudi and Indonesian medical professionals not only save lives but also pave the way for a brighter future for children in need of cardiac care. The dedication and compassion shown by the doctors involved in this program are truly making a difference in the lives of Indonesian families.