Jakarta, Jan. 22 -- Indonesia will expand medical faculties to tackle a severe shortage of doctors and their uneven distribution, Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin said Thursday, as the government moves to triple the number of physicians nationwide.

Sadikin said the shortage is so acute that doctors are currently allowed to work at up to three health facilities.

"That alone shows how short we are.The number of doctors must be increased threefold. President Prabowo has seen the scale of the problem. We have to establish more medical faculties so more people can train," he said.

He voiced confidence Indonesia could sharply boost its doctor numbers, citing South Korea as a model.

Despite having only one-sixth to one-fifth of Indonesia'...