After once serving actively as a referral center for employees and local residents since 1991, the PT Pagilaran Health Center was eventually forced to endure years of severe limitations in the following period. The momentum to restore the function of the health center is now being seriously pursued through a collaboration between the Doctoral Program (S3) in Dental Sciences, Faculty of Dentistry, Universitas Gadjah Mada (FKG UGM), and regional government institutions, with the aim of opening new hope for the surrounding community to access proper healthcare services.
Efforts to revive these healthcare services were discussed in a meeting involving FKG UGM, PT Pagilaran, Blado 1 Community Health Center (Puskesmas Blado 1), the Batang Regency Health Office, and KAKGIGAMA (the Alumni Family of Dentistry, Universitas Gadjah Mada). The meeting was led by Prof. Dr. drg. Widowati Siswomihardjo, M.S., as the Head of the Doctoral Program in Dental Sciences, FKG UGM. During the meeting, plans were discussed to find solutions so that the long-inactive health facility could resume operations and serve the community once again.
The PT Pagilaran Health Center plays an important role as a primary referral facility for the surrounding community. Mr. Sunardi, representing the company, stated that during its golden era, the center once served as a main referral facility and even provided inpatient services. The center greatly assisted employees and nearby residents, supported by nurses and health cadres who were routinely on duty. Unfortunately, this condition changed drastically after 1992 when the management stepped down and no permanent medical personnel remained.
Since then, healthcare services at the center have been severely limited. Doctor visits could only be conducted once a month, while nurses visited twice a month. The situation worsened during the COVID-19 pandemic, which caused the health center to cease operations entirely. Mr. Sunardi expressed his hope that the services could become active again. “If this healthcare service can be reactivated, the residents will be very happy and greatly helped,” he said.
In opening the discussion, Prof. Widowati emphasized that this health center is an asset that needs to be reactivated. This statement was responded to by Ms. Mei, representing the Batang Regency Health Office, who explained that the center already meets the requirements in terms of facilities and infrastructure to be reactivated, but faces obstacles related to human resources. “At least two doctors and one pharmacist are required if it is to be established as a clinic,” said Mei.
Considering these human resource constraints, drg. Hermawan, representing KAKGIGAMA, proposed an alternative that is more feasible and supported by the local government, namely transforming the health center into a Village Health Post (PKD). He further explained that the PKD scheme is considered the most viable option because the building would remain the property of PT Pagilaran, while the provision of human resources such as doctors, nurses, and midwives, as well as medicines, could be supported by Puskesmas Blado 1 and the local Health Office.
Puskesmas Blado 1 welcomed the PKD proposal and expressed readiness to provide human resource support. They also emphasized that existing community health cadres should be given training in Integrated Primary Services (ILP).
At the end of the meeting, Prof. Bundi reiterated that the Village Health Post (PKD) is the most feasible option to be realized. FKG UGM’s commitment to initiating services is already evident, as FKG UGM has trained 25 village health cadres in the detection of dental and oral diseases and has provided a donation in the form of a dental unit through collaboration with PT Cobra Dental.
Author and Photographer: Fajar Budi Harsakti
