Medical professor of UGM, Prof. dr. Ali Ghufron Mukti, MSc., PhD., has earned honoris causa degree in health from Coventry University, UK, on Tuesday (21/11) for his contribution to initiate public health security system in Indonesia.
The former Dean of Faculty of Medicine UGM who is currently the Director General for Science, Technology Resource and Higher Education in the Research, Technology, and Higher Education Ministry, became the first Indonesian that earns the honoris causa degree from Coventry University. The honourary award is an appreciation of Ghufron’s commitment in health quality improvement in the country by establishing public health security that is easily accessible, initiating the Health Social Security Agency (BPJS).
Ghufron expressed appreciation and pride following the degree conferment. He hoped this would inspire the young generation to be a role model as well as encouraging the birth of more world class scientists and health workers in the country and improving collaboration with world health innovative centres.
“I hope this would inspire the young generation to make Indonesia more recognised by world health sector,” he said in a text message on Monday (27/11).
Ghufron said he had wanted to become a doctor since his childhood, realising the high expense of medical treatment. After his medical studies, he opted to focus on funding and management of health insurance instead of specialist education. He wanted to be able to establish health security system that enabled the disadvantaged people to have access to quality health facilities.
Earlier, Ghufron had designed the funding system and management of health insurance at UGM through campus health clinic called as Gadjah Mada Center Health Center (GMC HC). As a result, UGM students may have health treatment as well as preventive services in the form of fitness center, etc. It is founded on the insurance and co-funding from the students.
At the regional level, Ghufron had initiated the Regional Health Security of Yogyakarta, which was later adopted nationally, becoming the Public Health Social Security that is run by the BPJS This started to be implemented when he became Deputy Health Minister in 2011.
The man born in Blitar, 17 May 1962 said he wanted to expand his grasp to economic area. In his opinion, there are three main sectors to build the nation, which are education, health, and economy.
“They are very closely related. People cannot be healthy if they stay in ignorance and poverty. Hopefully, these three sectors can run well, being healthy, educated, and prosperous,” he concluded.