IDI Chairman Dr. dr. Slamet Budiarto, MH.Kes., at UMM, Student Creativity Can Become the Engine of Indonesia’s Health Innovation

IDI Chairman at UMM: Student Creativity Can Become the Engine of Indonesia’s Health Innovation

MALANG | JATIMSATUNEWS.COM: Student organizations (Ormawa) hold a strategic role in improving community health. This was emphasized by the Chairman of the Indonesian Medical Association (IDI), Dr. dr. Slamet Budiarto, MH.Kes., during a public forum at the Dome Hall of Universitas Muhammadiyah Malang (UMM) on Friday, December 5, 2025. The event was part of the Abdidaya Ormawa 2025 series that brought together student leaders, academics, and health practitioners.

In his address, Slamet detailed the strategic contribution that Ormawa can make in strengthening public health. He highlighted their potential to develop desa binaan into model “healthy villages,” build stronger collaborations with institutions for community mentoring, and carry out comprehensive health campaigns including clean and healthy living behavior (PHBS), balanced nutrition, sanitation, reproductive health, and mental health.

He further noted that student organizations are well-positioned to expand health literacy through seminars, public discussions, Instagram Live sessions, and data-driven health talks. Ormawa can also advocate campus health policies—such as smoke-free zones and healthy campus environments—and organize social actions like free medical checkups and blood donation drives.
“Students are creative, close to the community, and capable of presenting education with fresh and effective approaches,” Slamet said.

According to him, the concept of Ormawa-driven healthy villages is an innovative approach highly relevant to today’s societal needs. “Students should not come only for ceremonial activities. They must serve as sustainable companions grounded in data, education, and real empowerment,” he added. Consistent student involvement, he stressed, could significantly enhance community health and, in the long term, contribute to raising the nation’s life expectancy.

Slamet also addressed several pressing health challenges in Indonesia. He noted the national life expectancy of only 68.25 years, the country’s position as the world’s second-highest for tuberculosis cases, and its ranking as the fifth-highest in ASEAN for stunting rates. These issues, he argued, cannot be solved by medical professionals alone but require collaboration from all sectors, including student communities.

For years, Indonesian higher education institutions have actively implemented community service programs in health, environmental stewardship, and village empowerment. This role underscores universities as not merely centers of knowledge transfer but also hubs of social innovation powered by students. Slamet’s presence at UMM further reinforced the campus as a strategic arena connecting academia, the health profession, and society.

He concluded his session with an optimistic message about the potential of young people.
“I firmly believe that university students have the capacity to become the driving force of health innovation and deliver real impact for a healthier Indonesia,” he said. (Ans).