Hypertension and diabetes are no longer only associated with old age. These two diseases are increasingly affecting residents of productive age—hindering activities, lowering quality of life, and even threatening lives. In Palembang City, the number of hypertension cases has reached 411,518 and diabetes cases have reached 112,112. These figures are not just statistics; they are a serious alarm for primary healthcare services.

Hypertension and diabetes are no longer only associated with old age. These two diseases are increasingly affecting residents of productive age—hindering activities, lowering quality of life, and even threatening lives. In Palembang City, the number of hypertension cases has reached 411,518 and diabetes cases have reached 112,112. These figures are not just statistics; they are a serious alarm for primary healthcare services. In response to this challenge, a research team from the Community Nursing Department at the Faculty of Nursing (FoN) UI, led by Prof. Dra. Junaiti Sahar, S.Kp., M.App.Sc., Ph.D., is developing an inter-professional collaborative model for the management of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) at Community Health Centers (Puskesmas). This research is supported by the 2025 Kemdiktisaintek Grant.

According to the WHO (2025), NCDs account for 74% of global deaths each year. However, in Indonesia, the practice of inter-professional collaboration—between doctors, nurses, nutritionists, pharmacists, and other health workers—at Community Health Centers (Puskesmas) is still not running optimally. Yet, this collaboration is key to providing faster, more accurate, and comprehensive services.

The research involved 301 health workers from 37 Community Health Centers (Puskesmas) in Palembang City, with the Palembang City Health Office as a strategic partner. The Head of the P2P Division, Yudhi Setiawan, SKM, M.Epid., stated:

"Inter-professional collaboration is very important to ensure effective, comprehensive, and continuous healthcare services for the community."

Field data collection was carried out at the Pembina Community Health Center and the Sukarami Community Health Center by Dr. Etty Rekawati, S.Kp., M.K.M., Ns. Utami Rachmawati, S.Kep., M.Kep., Sp.Kep.Kom., and M. Agung Akbar (a doctoral student at FoN UI).

"This activity is an important step to get a real picture of the situation on the ground, so that the collaborative model to be developed is truly in line with the needs of primary care services," explained Dr. Etty.

It is hoped that the results of this research will become a national reference for strengthening inter-professional collaboration in Community Health Centers (Puskesmas). With an evidence-based approach, the resulting model can help curb the rate of hypertension and diabetes, while also ensuring that the community receives integrated services that are in line with real needs on the ground.