Governor Ria Norsan has opened PEC to stop people from having to go to Malaysia for medical care

Pontianak, Thekabarnews.com—The opening of the Pontianak Eye Center (PEC) Hospital is a big step forward. It aims to make healthcare services better in West Kalimantan.

West Kalimantan Governor Ria Norsan officially launched the specialist eye hospital. The launch included a big celebration that involved cutting a ribbon. It also included signing an inauguration plaque, Saturday, January 24.

The eye hospital is projected to be a useful solution for people who used to have to go to Kuching, Malaysia, to get good eye care.

Governor Ria Norsan said that the fact that PEC currently has contemporary medical equipment makes it a wonderful alternative. It also prevents the need to go abroad for treatment.

“We are giving the public additional choices. People who can pay for therapy in Kuching can still go there, but since we already have sophisticated technology and excellent facilities here, why not have treatment at home?” Ria Norsan made this statement during his speech.

The governor talked a lot about how important it was that PEC was willing to serve patients under the Health Care and Social Security Agency (BPJS Kesehatan). Furthermore, experts view this approach as crucial. It helps to cut down on the number of patients at the Dr. Soedarso Regional General Hospital (RSUD). The hospital often has excessive wait times.

The previous Mempawah Regent, who served two terms, also talked about how there are not enough eye doctors in the region. West Kalimantan only has about 27 ophthalmologists right now. However, it needs between 57 and 60 experts to serve a population of over 6.7 million.

The director of PEC, Dr. Muhammad Iqbal, said that turning the center from a clinic into a hospital is a real step toward lowering the province’s high rates of blindness.

PEC has done almost 30,000 cataract procedures as of December 2025. This high number of procedures shows how important it is becoming in the region for eye care.

“This has been our dream—to see more patients and handle more difficult problems. So far, there have not been many therapeutic options for corneal patients. We want to be more proactive in the future so that keratoplasty surgeries can be done in West Kalimantan,” Dr. Iqbal remarked.

We anticipate that the PPEC Hospital’s opening will enhance the quality of healthcare in the region. It will also lessen the need for medical care abroad over time. Additionally, it will make modern eye care more accessible to people in the province.