Iman Apriyadi

My name is Iman Apriyadi, from Musi Banyuasin, South Sumatra, Indonesia. I work as a staff nurse and Government Procurement Officer at Sungai Lilin Regional Hospital, a district-level hospital where many people still face challenges accessing quality healthcare. Coming from a rural setting, I have witnessed firsthand how shortages of equipment, limited facilities, and budget constraints affect people’s right to health. These challenges inspired me to dedicate my career to strengthening Indonesia’s health systems.

Expanding health care services in rural Indonesia 

In 2020 I was assigned to develop the hospital’s Medical Checkup Unit. At first, we only served two companies. By collaborating with specialists, ensuring proper equipment, and reaching out to surrounding enterprises, including palm oil, coal, and oil and gas companies, I expanded our services to over 20 companies. Within a year, the unit’s income increased by 900%, enabling the hospital to reinvest in new equipment and expand its care services. Building on this, I established a Hospital Blood Bank. Previously, patients requiring transfusion had to be referred to other hospitals due to a lack of supply. By partnering with the Indonesian Red Cross and securing four blood suppliers, we were able to provide transfusions locally. This significantly reduced emergency referrals and improved patient survival.  

One of the most significant challenges of my career

During the COVID-19 crisis, I faced one of the most significant challenges of my career. Our hospital lacked an Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and suffered from oxygen shortages. I initiated partnerships with local companies through their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programs. Together, we secured oxygen concentrators, cylinders, and regulators to meet urgent needs. Later, I successfully proposed the construction of the hospital’s first ICU, funded with CSR support of over IDR 2 billion (approximately €117,600). Completed in 2023, the ICU has since treated hundreds of patients who no longer require referral to other facilities.  

These experiences taught me how innovation, collaboration, and perseverance can bring lasting improvements to community health. They also demonstrated the importance of strengthening procurement systems to ensure that every hospital has the necessary resources to support its operations. However, I realized that to scale up my impact, I needed a deeper understanding of health systems, policy, and leadership.  

Global perspective to improve lifesaving care in rural setting

This is why I chose to pursue the Masterprogramme at KIT. This will equip me with analytical skills and a global perspective to design sustainable solutions and advocate for more substantial investment in health infrastructure. The change I want to see in the world is simple yet profound: that no patient is denied life-saving care because of where they live. I like rural hospitals in Indonesia to provide the same quality of services as those in larger cities.

This year at KIT, my personal goal is to strengthen my leadership capacity, learn evidence-based policy approaches, and expand my international network. I want to bring back not only new knowledge, but also the spirit of collaboration that I see in my classmates from around the world.  My long-term goal is to become the Head of the Health Office at the Musi Banyuasin Regency, where I can drive systemic reforms in procurement and resource allocation, thereby improving efficiency and equity across the region as a policymaker.