AIPKI: Medical education must adapt to the changing times

Indonesian medical education needs to adapt to the times

Medical education in Indonesia faces increasingly dynamic challenges and opportunities. In this context, there is a need for a comprehensive transformation so that doctoral graduates can meet the needs of a growing society. This was conveyed by the General Chairperson of the Association of Indonesian Medical Education Institutions (AIPKI) Wisnu Barlianto in the 2025-2028 AIPKI Management Work Meeting at Trisakti University, Jakarta, Tuesday (22/7).

According to Vishnu, the transformation of medical education is no longer an option, but a must. “We want to produce doctors who are not only clinically competent, but also adaptive to technological changes and social challenges in society,” he said.

Collaboration to create superior doctor graduates

One of AIPKI’s main focuses is to strengthen collaboration between educational institutions, teaching hospitals, and government. This collaboration aims to ensure that doctoral graduates have superior quality and are evenly distributed throughout Indonesia. Efforts to standardize education, a more adaptive national competency test system, and the expansion of scholarship access for students from under-served areas are a top priority.

In addition, AIPKI also seeks to improve the quality and relevance of medical education through several initiatives. Some of the programs that have been initiated include:

• Digitization of National Learning Module Based on Competency and Local Needs.
• Cross-institutional lecturer and medical student exchange program.
• Partnership with global institutions in the development of medical curriculum based on evidence-based practice and digital technology.
• Ensuring a healthy and free from bullying climate of medical education.

encouragement to strengthen institutional capacity

AIPKI also advised the government to pay more attention to strengthening the capacity of medical education institutions. This includes the procurement of practical facilities, digital laboratories, and quality management systems based on national and international accreditation. University hospitals as the main vehicle for education also need to be strengthened.

In addition, AIPKI together with leaders of medical faculties from all over Indonesia agreed to support the hopes of Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto to add doctors and health workers. One concrete form is that together with the Ministry of Education and Technology, we have identified several medical faculties that already have full or partial abilities to open university-based specialist and subspecialist study programs. This program is expected to be able to produce 60,000 new doctors by 2029.

support from local government

This effort also requires the support of local governments, especially those whose hospitals are the main teaching hospitals. One form of support in question is the rationalization of the retribution for the placement of practical students which is often burdensome. All of this is done with the spirit of sharing responsibilities and for the benefit of the wider community.

Vision of the Future of Medical Education

Through these strategic steps, AIPKI believes that Indonesian medical education will be able to produce professional, humanist, and ready to serve the nation with high integrity. The transformation of medical education is not only about technology and curriculum, but also about collective awareness to build a better and more sustainable health system.