Sought Worldwide, Marginalized at Home: The Paradox of Indonesian Nurses

Nurses in Indonesia are a paradox: highly sought after by countries worldwide, yet often marginalized within their own nation. From remote villages to metropolitan hospitals, nurses are the first and sometimes only point of contact for healthcare in underserved areas. They manage fevers, treat wounds, provide health education, conduct home visits, assist in emergencies, and make critical initial decisions before patient referral. In urban centers, they work in intensive care units, operating rooms, and specialized wards, often around the clock, monitoring patients, administering medication, preventing complications, and comforting families.

The global demand for nurses continues to rise, with the World Health Organization estimating a worldwide shortage of 4.5 million nurses by 2030, particularly in Africa, Southeast Asia, the Eastern Mediterranean, and parts of Latin America. The WHO emphasizes that investing in nurses is crucial for building effective, resilient, and sustainable health systems. Indonesia, with 768,623 registered nurses as of June 2025, has the potential to meet some of this global demand. Between 2022 and 2024, 1,294 graduates from Poltekkes Kemenkes (Ministry of Health Polytechnics) found employment in 14 countries, including Japan, Germany, Saudi Arabia, the Netherlands, and Singapore.

However, this international success story contrasts sharply with the domestic reality. The large number of nursing graduates from various universities and institutions in Indonesia, over 299 institutions offering vocational nursing programs and more than 340 offering Bachelor of Nursing and Professional Nurse programs, is not matched by proportional job opportunities, career ladders, or competency recognition. While the educational infrastructure is substantial, including programs for Master's, Specialist, and Doctoral degrees in nursing, the system struggles to provide adequate professional pathways for its graduates.

This disparity highlights a critical issue: the Indonesian nursing profession, despite its vital role and international appeal, remains undervalued at home. The author, Prof. Dr. H. Muhammad Hadi, argues that this situation is a paradox where nurses are needed everywhere and sought by many nations, yet face significant neglect and lack of proper appreciation within Indonesia. The article calls for greater investment and recognition of the nursing profession to build a stronger national health system.