Jakarta, The Gulf Observer: Indonesia’s Ministry of Health and the United Kingdom government have launched Tangguh+, a bilateral health partnership platform aimed at strengthening cooperation and supporting Indonesia’s healthcare transformation priorities.
The platform was launched in Jakarta on Tuesday, October 13, and is designed to serve as a coordination hub bringing together government agencies, hospitals, universities, research institutions, industry stakeholders and international partners to advance collaboration in the health sector.
Speaking at the launch, Indonesia’s Deputy Minister of Health, Dante Saksono Harbuwono, emphasized that the partnership must deliver tangible benefits to the public rather than remain limited to bilateral agreements and official meetings.
“The real value of a strategic partnership lies not just in the engagements and agreements we sign, but also in our ability to bring together the right expertise, institutions, and resources to deliver sustainable outcomes,” he said.
Harbuwono stated that cooperation between Indonesia and the UK was expected to strengthen healthcare systems, develop the capacity of healthcare professionals and improve resilience against future health threats.
He explained that the partnership was based on a memorandum of understanding signed by Indonesia’s Ministry of Health and the UK Department of Health and Social Care on May 20, 2025.
The agreement covers seven key areas: healthcare services, disease surveillance and control, health science and innovation, healthcare workforce development, clinical research, digital health, and the transition from treatment-focused healthcare towards prevention.
Through Tangguh+, the two countries will advance cooperation across three principal pillars: healthcare workforce development, technological innovation and health security.
The initiative will also support improvements in health systems and infrastructure, research and innovation, and public-private partnerships, with the objective of promoting equitable access to quality healthcare for communities throughout Indonesia.
Harbuwono expressed hope that the platform would bridge the gap between policy commitments and practical implementation, ensuring that bilateral cooperation produces sustainable and measurable benefits for the population.
Meanwhile, British Ambassador to Indonesia and Timor-Leste Dominic Jermey reaffirmed the United Kingdom’s commitment to supporting Indonesia’s healthcare transformation through collaboration involving both governments, the UK National Health Service (NHS), universities, research institutions and private-sector partners.
Jermey highlighted the importance of bringing together expertise and institutional resources to support Indonesia’s health priorities and strengthen bilateral cooperation.
Melinda Bohannon, Director General for Global Issues at the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, said the partnership was founded on shared interests, the exchange of expertise and mutual responsibility in addressing global health challenges.
The launch of Tangguh+ marks a further step in Indonesia-UK health cooperation, with both countries seeking to strengthen healthcare capacity, accelerate innovation and build more resilient health systems capable of responding to emerging challenges.
