Bridging Diaspora Contributions: The Role of State-Owned Enterprise Foundations in Cross-Border Health Collaboration

The Hague, 12 July 2025 – BUMN Foundation is present in Gathering of the Indonesian Diaspora Healthcare Professionals 2025, a forum held at the Indonesian Embassy in The Hague. The forum brought together three diaspora associations of Indonesian doctors from the Netherlands, Germany, and the United Kingdom, in the spirit of sharing and strengthening the national health system through cross-border contributions.

The three organizations that were the main sources were IDGNH Netherlands (Indonesian Diaspora Global Network Health) represented by Dr. Tjay Tan, ADIMAN Germany (Association of Indonesian Doctors in Germany) represented by Dr. Prasti Pomarius, as well as DINDA UK (Indonesian Doctors Diaspora United Kingdom) which is represented virtually by Dyah Prawesti.

The three shared their experiences in initiating tangible contributions to Indonesian health, from organizing webinars among specialists across the country, collaborating with medical schools and hospitals in Indonesia, to participating in hands-on field practice. Furthermore, they also encourage and mentor young Indonesians seeking to develop themselves through medical training and specialization abroad, including providing access to necessary information and certifications.

However, the diaspora's contribution still faces various challenges, ranging from differing systems, complex bureaucracies, and misaligned expectations. Collaboration has traditionally been concentrated at the level of large institutions, while many diaspora seek more direct and impactful involvement.

In the discussion forum, the BUMN Foundation raised a new, rarely touched-upon approach: bridging diaspora contributions through collaborations with grassroots organizations such as NGOs and social foundations. This idea is based on the belief that contributions need not always be tied to large institutions or often rigid formal channels, but can instead be realized through direct collaboration that touches on real needs in the community. The response from the three diaspora associations was enthusiastic. ADIMAN expressed its openness to this idea, which had previously been considered but not focused on because their collaborations so far have mostly taken place through hospitals. IDGNH and DINDA UK also saw this approach as a more flexible and relevant form of contribution to the Indonesian context. All three encouraged continued communication with the BUMN Foundation, as a first step towards a more applicable and impactful collaboration scheme that has long been long-term.

The BUMN Foundation's participation in this forum reflects its commitment to providing a broader and more context-responsive space for collaboration. When the diaspora and domestic social initiatives are united within the right collaborative ecosystem, we can strengthen healthcare services more equitably and inclusively, which we hope will develop into real collaboration on the ground, towards building a healthier and more empowered Indonesia.