NTT Ready to Serve as Pilot Site: Governor Melki at National Health Forum – Change the Approach – Screening Is Not the End, Ensure Everyone Receives Follow-Up Care
KUPANG, kliklinfopol.com – 15 September 2026 – East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) Governor Emanuel Melkiades Laka Lena delivered a fundamental message on the national stage: health partnerships must not stop at simply running programs. True success means ensuring people actually receive the care they need, no matter where they live.
The Governor conveyed this in his role as Voice of Beneficiary during the High-Level Dialogue session at the 4th Indonesia Health Partners Meeting (IHPM) 2026, held in hybrid format by the Ministry of Health in Jakarta on Tuesday (15/9/2026).
Governor Melki presented real data from NTT that reflects the genuine challenge:
– 1.75 million residents have undergone screening through the Free Health Check-Up Program
– 1.09 million were identified as needing further treatment
– Only 34,000 people (3.14%) have received follow-up care
“This is where the partnership model must change. Screening should be the starting line, not the finish line,” Governor Melki emphasized.
He stressed the need for a complete care pathway, covering diagnosis funding, medicine availability, referral transport, and regular monitoring, with clear accountability at every stage.
For NTT, a province made up of thousands of islands, the measure of success is straightforward:
“Do people receive the care they need, wherever they live? National priorities set the direction, but local realities determine how services reach them.”
Governor Melki urged listening to local needs before designing programs, aligning partner support with government plans, and sharing accountability for outcomes, not just activities.
NTT has already demonstrated what aligned policy can achieve: the Integrated Primary Services (ILP) program now operates in 441 out of 446 community health centers (98.88%) across the province. Yet this milestone is no reason to be complacent — the next challenge is ensuring benefits reach every household.
The Governor confirmed NTT’s readiness to pilot an integrated care model together with the central government and development partners, building on the strong network of existing health centers and village systems.
“Health transformation is not measured by how many programs run or how much funding is disbursed. Success is measured by how many people, once identified as needing help, actually receive it.”
Source: Bureau of Executive Administration, Regional Secretariat of NTT Province.
Writer: Charles Gunawan
Editor: Hiro Lukas
