Jakarta – The COVID-19 rapid response task force has said that Indonesia needs an additional 1,500 doctors and 2,500 nurses to treat COVID-19 patients amid the surge in cases across the archipelago.
"Indonesia currently needs around 1,500 doctors, especially pulmonologists, anesthetists and general physicians, as well as 2,500 nurses," COVID-19 task force volunteer coordinator Andre Rahadian said at a press briefing on Thursday, as quoted by kompas.com.
In addition to more doctors and nurses, Andre said that hospitals urgently needed more laboratory staff, administrative staff and ambulance drivers.
Andre said that students in their final year of medical school would form the "second front line" in preventing the spread of COVID-1 by providing "medical and [mental health] consultations through an online platform".
The COVID-19 task force is working in collaboration with various universities and NGOs. Anyone interested in volunteering may sign up through the task force's official website.
Earlier on Thursday, Education and Culture Minister Nadiem Makarim called on medical school students across the country to join the task force's volunteer program.
"Our country is currently at war against an invisible enemy that is moving fast and threatening human lives. Therefore, I ask all people to join the fight to defeat this enemy," Nadiem said on Thursday in Jakarta during a COVID-19 video conference with students.
Indonesia's nationwide figures at the time of publishing stood at 893 confirmed cases, with 103 new case and 78 deaths. The country recorded the highest number of deaths on March 26, with 20 people dying of the disease. (aly)