Lombok Zone – On February 27, 2026, Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin and West Nusa Tenggara Governor H. Lalu Muhamad Iqbal visited the City of Bima to assess the progress of the Bima Hospital’s development. This visit aimed to ensure that the hospital’s construction, medical equipment procurement, and human resource readiness are aligned with the standards set for upgrading the facility.
Both the central and local governments affirmed their commitment to enhance the Bima Hospital, transforming it into a referral center for eastern NTB. This initiative is part of a broader strategy to improve access and quality of referral services across Sumbawa Island. It includes upgrading the Bima Hospital to Type C status and enhancing H.L. Manambai Abdul Kadir Hospital to Type B, as stipulated in Ministry of Health Regulation No. 3 of 2020 concerning Hospital Classification and Licensing.
During the visit, Minister Sadikin emphasized the importance of on-site verification to ensure that the hospital’s physical development meets the necessary standards for optimal functionality. With better facilities, medical equipment, and an improved healthcare workforce, the residents of Sumbawa Island, particularly in Dompu and Bima, will no longer need to travel to Mataram for specialized services.
In addition, Governor Iqbal expressed gratitude to the central government for its continued support in strengthening the services at Bima Hospital. He noted that this support aligns with the NTB Provincial Government’s efforts to enhance the provincial hospitals on Sumbawa Island, including strengthening H.L. Manambai Abdul Kadir Hospital as part of a more equitable regional referral system.
From Political Commitment to Policy Design
During their campaign, the Iqbal-Dinda pairing promised to improve healthcare equity for the people of Sumbawa, Sumbawa Barat, Dompu, and Bima City. This commitment is now being transformed into concrete policies aimed at bolstering referral hospitals on Sumbawa Island to reduce reliance on services in Mataram.
Currently, specialized services such as cardiac interventions, cancer chemotherapy, and hemodialysis still require patients to be referred to Lombok. This dependency results in long wait times, additional costs, and the risk of delays in medical care, highlighting the need for a stronger Bima Hospital as a corrective measure for service disparities.
Healthcare Challenges in NTB
NTB faces a huge healthcare burden, with major causes of premature mortality being cancer, stroke, and tuberculosis, alongside non-communicable diseases and stunting. With a population of approximately 5.66 million, the province contends with significant health-related challenges:
- Cancer: 83-192 thousand DALY per year
- Stroke: 80-118 thousand DALY
- Tuberculosis: 72-140 thousand DALY
- Stunting: about 131 thousand DALY
- Heart disease: 40-69 thousand DALY
The economic loss from health issues in NTB is estimated to be between Rp18–25 trillion annually, indicating that health matters are not just social concerns but also economic productivity issues. Disparities in service distribution between Lombok and Sumbawa exacerbate these challenges. Many specialized services are still concentrated in Mataram, leading patients from Sumbawa to travel hundreds of kilometers, often while unwell.
Capacity of Bima Hospital: Before and After
Prior to its upgrade, Bima Hospital had:
- 98 beds serving approximately 166,992 residents
- 7 outpatient clinics
- Limited ICU and NICU
- Basic specialist human resources
The bed-to-population ratio was inadequate, necessitating an increase of 70–100 beds. With improvements, the capacity is expected to rise to around 230 beds, featuring:
- 14 outpatient clinics
- ICU, NICU, and ICVCU
- Central operating room
- Comprehensive laboratory facilities
- Modern emergency department with zonation system
Advanced equipment like Cathlab, CT Scan, Mamography, and Hemodialysis will enhance service competency in line with Type C hospital standards.
Strengthening Human Resources and Equipment
To ensure competency-based upgrades, the government will enhance human resources with specialists in oncology, urology, neurosurgery, interventional neurology, and anesthesiology. Additional medical equipment will include:
- PCR machines
- Immunology analyzers
- Blood chemical analyzers
- Electroencephalography (EEG)
Support facilities will comprise transport ambulances and stroke and cancer wards. This approach indicates that hospital upgrades are not merely administrative but clinically prepared.
Measurable Policy Targets
Post-upgrade, the government aims for:
- A bed ratio nearing 1.44 per 1,000 residents
- Controlled Bed Occupancy Rate (BOR) around 75%
- Significantly reduced patient wait times
- Reduced referrals to Mataram for specific cases
- Enhanced regional healthcare cost efficiency
By strengthening Bima Hospital and upgrading H.L. Manambai Abdul Kadir Hospital to Type B, Sumbawa Island is expected to establish a more independent and efficient regional referral system.
Strategic Meaning for Sumbawa Island
The enhancement of Bima Hospital as the eastern NTB referral center signifies a policy stance that healthcare should not be concentrated on just one island. The government must guarantee equal access for all citizens, including those in eastern NTB. With the elevation of Bima Hospital and H.L. Manambai Abdul Kadir Hospital, Sumbawa Island now lays the groundwork for a stronger and more autonomous regional referral system. This initiative may not resolve all challenges, but it clearly outlines a policy direction aimed at improving service accessibility, expediting treatment, and ensuring health justice for the people of Sumbawa Island.
