13 September 2009, Jakarta – Indonesian Health Minister Dr. dr. Siti Fadilah Supari, Sp.Jp(K) will meet with U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius in Washington DC and will leave today for the U.S. to discuss a new health partnership framework aimed at forming a public health and biomedical research centre.

In this meeting, Heath Minister Siti Fadilah leads the Indonesian delegation consisting of senior diplomat Dr. Makarim Wibisono, Director General of Disease Control and Environmental Health Prof. dr. Tjandra Yoga Aditama, Sp.P(K), MARS, DTM&H, Special Staff to the Health Minister for public health Dr. Widjaja Lukito, Ph.D., Sp. G. K., and Head of Health Research & Development Agency Prof. Dr. Agus Purwadianto, S.H, M.Si, Sp.F(K)

The upcoming meeting builds on previous talks conducted between the Indonesian Department of Health and U.S. Department of Health & Human Services which started since Barrack Obama took office. Previously, the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services delegation visited Jakarta in August 2009 and held meetings and talks with the Indonesian Department of Health.

Prior to departing for Washington, Health Minister Siti Fadilah conveyed her expectation that “this new health partnership will advance research and exchange of knowledge.”

Furthermore, the minister said, “Indonesia is always open to cooperation in matters of health that puts forward the principles of equality, transparency, mutual benefit, mutual respect, accountability and good governance. The new government under the leadership of President Barrack Obama has brought a new positive spirit in harmony with those principles Indonesia holds fast too. “

“We are confident that a new partnership framework will be agreed upon,” she added.

If an agreement is reached, this new partnership framework will mark new history in health cooperation between the two countries particularly for infectious disease, risk assessment and health risk response.

This release is issued by the Indonesian Health Department General Secretariat, Public Communication Centre. For further information please contact telephone: 021-52907416-9, fax: 52921669, Call Center: 021-30413700, or email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it