Yogyakarta, 21 November 2025 — The Faculty of Dentistry, Universitas Gadjah Mada (FKG UGM), signed a Cooperation Agreement with the Indonesian Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery College (BMM). This collaboration marks a strategic step toward strengthening the implementation of the National Competency Examination and the development of specialist and subspecialist education in oral and maxillofacial surgery in Indonesia.
The signing ceremony took place at FKG UGM and was attended by the Dean of FKG UGM, Prof. Dr. Suryono, S.H., MM., Ph.D., the Chair of the Indonesian BMM College, Prof. drg. Muhammad Ruslin, M.Kes., Ph.D., Sp.BM(K), the FKG UGM deanery, the Head of the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery FKG UGM, drg. Poerwati Soetji Rahajoe, Sp.BMM(K), Subsp.T.M.T.M.J(K), Ph.D., the Head of the Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Study Program FKG UGM, drg. Pingky Krisna Arindra, Sp.B.M.M., Subsp. Ped.O.M.(K), and FKG UGM staff.
A Historic Step Toward National Competency Standardization
In his remarks, the Dean of FKG UGM emphasized that this cooperation represents an important milestone and is the first of its kind among dental colleges to establish a similar MoU with an educational institution.
“We warmly welcome this collaboration. Our hope is that the competency examination for oral and maxillofacial surgery specialists can be standardized nationally,” said Prof. Suryono.
He also highlighted the national shortage of dental specialists. With only around 60 oral surgery specialists graduating each year and more than 3,600 hospitals across Indonesia, targeted efforts are needed to address this gap.
College Targets Development of Educational Centers Nationwide
The Chair of the Indonesian BMM College, Prof. Ruslin, stated that the MoU at FKG UGM is part of a national strategy to expand and distribute specialist education in oral surgery. “FKG UGM serves as an example and a starting point. We will strengthen similar collaborations with other dental faculties across Indonesia,” he said. Currently, Indonesia has seven SP1 (specialist) oral surgery education centers, with recent additions at USU and UNAND. The College aims to establish new centers in Kalimantan and Bali.
For SP2 (subspecialist) programs, development is encouraged at UGM, UI, UNPAD, and UNAIR, with one SP2 field already operating at Universitas Hasanuddin, Makassar.
Responding to President Prabowo’s Targets and National Healthcare Needs
Prof. Ruslin explained that these initiatives directly respond to national healthcare service targets under President Prabowo Subianto’s Asta Cita program.
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this fellowship as interim solutions while comprehensive specialist education is strengthened.
Synergy Between Educational Institutions and Hospitals
The Dean of FKG UGM highlighted the importance of utilizing final-year residents to assist healthcare services in underserved regions.
"Many regional hospitals don't have dentists, let alone specialists. Final-year residents can be empowered to provide access to services."
He also noted that hospital-based education models proposed by the government could accelerate specialist production while maintaining clinical education quality.
Optimism for Accelerated Development of Indonesia’s Oral Surgery Workforce
The signing of this Cooperation Agreement symbolizes a shared commitment between educational institutions and the College to strengthen quality, capacity, and equitable distribution of oral surgery services nationwide.
“May this MoU be a positive beginning for Indonesia,” concluded Prof. Suryono.
The BMM Collegium stated that it would continue to collaborate with various dental faculties in Indonesia in the near future, as part of a large strategy to produce more and more evenly distributed oral and maxillofacial surgeons.
(Reporter: Andri Wicaksono, Photo: Fajar Budi Harsakti)
