Rico Waas Strengthens Health Response, Tackles TB and HIV in Medan

MEDAN | INDATANEWS.COM – Mayor of Medan, Rico Waas, received a delegation from Commission IX of the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR RI) during a working visit at Medan City Hall on Thursday, May 21, 2026. The meeting focused on monitoring and strengthening efforts to combat tuberculosis (TB) and HIV in the city.

Rico Waas reaffirmed the city government's commitment to accelerating health sector transformation to ensure more accessible and high-quality healthcare services for residents.

"We are continuously working to improve service systems and the overall quality of healthcare delivery in Medan," he stated.

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He also noted that data from the Medan Health Office indicates a declining trend in TB and HIV cases, driven by intensified screening programs and strengthened local health regulations.

"Even though cases are decreasing, we remain vigilant. If additional mayoral regulations are needed, we will implement them immediately," he added.

Expanding BLUD Puskesmas Network

The mayor outlined strategic efforts to strengthen primary healthcare services through the transformation of Community Health Centers (Puskesmas) into BLUD (Regional Public Service Agency) units, allowing for more flexible and efficient management.

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Following the conversion of RSUD Pirngadi and RSUD Bachtiar Djafar into BLUD hospitals, the city government has also transitioned 41 Puskesmas into BLUD status. Renovation and modernization efforts are ongoing to improve service quality across facilities.

Health Protection for Crime Victims and DPR Support

Under the Universal Health Coverage (UHC) program, all Medan residents are covered by Indonesia's national health insurance scheme, BPJS Kesehatan. However, the city identified a gap in coverage for victims of street crime.

To address this issue, the Medan government issued Mayor Regulation No. 26 of 2026, ensuring that medical costs for victims of robbery and street crime are fully covered by the city budget (APBD). The program is implemented in collaboration with 23 hospitals.

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Commission IX DPR RI Deputy Chair and delegation leader Ade Rezki Pratama praised Medan's initiatives, noting their alignment with President Prabowo Subianto's "Asta Cita" national agenda, particularly in strengthening human resource development toward Indonesia 2045.

"TB and HIV remain major global and national challenges. We will bring the Mayor's inputs to the commission for further discussion with relevant ministries," he said.

The meeting also included discussions on ongoing challenges in TB and HIV control in Medan.

Also present were Medan Deputy Mayor H. Zakiyuddin Harahap, City Secretary Wiriya Alrahman, and heads of relevant regional agencies. (IDNC)

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REPORTER: Teguh Panjaitan | EDITOR: Fik Sagala

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