Jakarta, Jan. 12 -- Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto said his government will open free medical schools to address the country's shortage of doctors and other medical personnel.

Speaking at the inauguration of 166 Sekolah Rakyat (People's School) across 34 provinces in Banjarbaru, South Kalimantan, on Monday, Prabowo said Indonesia currently lacks hundreds of thousands of doctors, including dentists.

He said the government must take concrete and measurable steps to address the shortage, including by expanding access to medical education.

"We must open schools, and I will prove it to all people. In the near future, we will open medical schools," Prabowo said.

In addition to medical schools, he said the government would also open e...