The partnership will involve the sharing of scientific and technological information; increased cooperation with nongovernmental organizations, academic institutions and grassroot organizations; the organization of training programs, seminars and workshops; and the execution of joint projects.

The MoU was signed virtually by Danish Health Minister Magnus Heunicke and his Indonesian counterpart Budi Gunadi Sadikin on June 25. Also attending the ceremony were Danish Ambassador to Jakarta Lars Bo Larsen and Indonesian Ambassador to Copenhagen Dewi Savitri Wahab, the Indonesian Health Ministry announced.

Budi welcomed the MoU and said he expected it to be useful for both countries in the improvement of health care, while Heunicke expressed Denmark’s readiness to support Indonesia in its efforts to improve the health sector.

In addition, an agreement between the Health Ministry and PT Novo Nordisk Indonesia, the local subsidiary of a Danish pharmaceutical company, was signed during the ceremony. It regarded the prevention and control of noncommunicable diseases, especially diabetes, and was a concrete result of the MoU, the ministry said.

Health Ministry secretary general Oscar Primadi and PT Novo Nordisk Indonesia vice president and general manager Anand Shetty signed the agreement, which covers raising public awareness about diabetes; improving health workers’ ability to treat the condition; expanding access to health services for people with noncommunicable diseases; and evaluating health economics related to diabetes. 

Novo Nordisk Indonesia was appointed the strategic partner in the agreement between Denmark and Indonesia to pursue these changes.

The agreement between the health ministries of Denmark and Indonesia will be effective for five years, until 2026, and aims to pool the expertise of both countries to improve treatment for people living with diabetes.

Larson said the signing of the agreement showed the high level of mutual trust between both countries and widened bilateral cooperation in the crucial health sector.

“The agreement is an opportunity to further increase the cooperation between Denmark and Indonesia,” he said.

Meanwhile, Novo Nordisk senior vice president for Asia Pacific Sebnem Avsar Tuna said the company encouraged broad changes to defeat diabetes and other serious chronic diseases because the solution required more than just medicine.

“We are working with patients, policy makers, medical professionals and non-governmental organizations to build awareness, early warning [systems] and to expand access to health services,” he said.

Shetty said the agreement would strengthen diabetes treatment in the country through early diagnosis and control programs. (nvn)

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