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President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono stressed on Thursday the importance of a partnership between the government, the private sector and universities to develop modern hospitals good enough to stem the flood of wealthier Indonesians who seek medical treatment overseas every year.

“If our people go abroad to seek medical help every chance they get, those countries will get the benefit, not us, but unfortunately we cannot stop them from doing so," Yudhoyono said.

“In this era of globalization, protectionism is not the key. We have to step up and compete.”

Yudhoyono said the country boasted many good doctors, including those who were acknowledged as such by other countries’ standards, and there was no reason why Indonesia could not compete with others in providing top health services.

“We should be able to provide hospitals with beautiful environments that will complement the capable doctors and high-tech medical equipment,” he added, speaking at the launch of the first private cancer hospital in Indonesia, the Mochtar Riady Comprehensive Cancer Center

MRCCC founder and Lippo Group chairman Mochtar Riady estimated that at least 600,000 Indonesian patients seek medical treatment abroad annually, causing Indonesian medical businesses at least Rp 12 trillion ($1.4 billion) in lost revenues.

“My hope is that MRCCC will help to build the nation’s capacity to diagnose and treat cancer patients and eventually bring blessings and relief to the nation. Our goal is to beat cancer in Indonesia,” Mochtar said, adding that it was also part of his commitment to making quality health care accessible and affordable.

Health Minister Endang Rahayu Sedyaningsih said that so far, only four private hospitals — Siloam Hospital Lippo Karawaci, Bintaro International Hospital and Eka Hospital, all in Tangerang, and Santosa Hospital in Bandung, West Java — have obtained recognition from the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCI).The government, she added, was currently trying to get the same accreditation for seven state general hospitals.

Mochtar said the MRCCC was aiming to obtain JCI accreditation, citing its array of sophisticated medical equipment.

He said that besides wanting to give Indonesians access to cancer treatment, he was also motivated by the death of his mother when he was eight years old and the loss of his father to cancer in later years.

Endang praised MRCC for alloting 30 percent of its beds to poor patients. The government calls for a minimum of 10 percent.

Meanwhile, Yudhoyono said cancer should be seen as one of Indonesia’s top health care priorities. Six out of 10 deaths in Indonesia happen because of non-communicable diseases such as stroke, hypertension and cancer, Endang said.