MEETING WITH HEALTH MINISTER SUPARI

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 JAKARTA 000679

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

DEPT FOR EAP/MTS, OES/AIAG
USAID FOR ANE/CLEMENTS AND GH/CARROLL
DEPT ALSO PASS TO HHS/ABHAT/MSTLOUIS AND HHS/NIH
GENEVA FOR WHO/HOHMAN

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: TBIO AMED EAGR AMGT PGOV ID
SUBJECT: MEETING WITH HEALTH MINISTER SUPARI


1. (SBU) Summary. Minister of Health Siti Fadilah Supari told
Ambassador Hume she welcomes a meeting with Avian Influenza Special
Representative Robert Loftis and hopes that remaining sample sharing
concerns will be resolved at the World Health Assembly in May.
Ambassador briefed her on USG health cooperation with other
countries. He repeated interest of Secretary Clinton in health
cooperation with Indonesia, but he cautioned that a larger
relationship would need to include successful resolution of sample
sharing issue and status of NAMRU-2. End Summary.

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AI SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE'S VISIT TO INDONESIA
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2. (SBU) On April 14, Ambassador Hume told Minister Supari that
Ambassador Robert Loftis, the U.S. Special Representative for Avian
and Pandemic Influenza, would visit Indonesia from April 15-17 to
participate in the Environment, Science, Technology and Health
conference. Loftis will call on key government officials and other
partners involved in controlling avian influenza. Minister Supari
expressed interest in meeting with Loftis to discuss remaining
sample sharing concerns. She said that she hoped sample sharing
will be resolved in time for the May World Health Assembly. The
Ambassador agreed to set up a meeting with Loftis.

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U.S. HEALTH ENGAGEMENT IN OTHER COUNTRIES
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3. (SBU) The Ambassador said that he is committed to keeping health
on the agenda for the Indonesian -U.S. comprehensive partnership.
He shared a general description of U.S. health programs in other
countries:

-- In South Africa the large program was funded mainly by PEPFAR and
targeted at HIV/AIDS, but some research and cooperation continued on
other issues, such as tuberculosis and infectious diseases.

-- In Vietnam PEPFAR was again the main element, but attention was
also give to issues that remain from the Vietnam war. The United
States and Vietnam also had a program for Vietnamese scientists to
do advanced study in the United States.

-- In China the programs included some attention to HIV/AIDS, but
cooperation included attention to other infectious diseases, such as
avian flu, and other health problems.

-- In India much of the health relationship was directed at
HIV/AIDS, but there were substantial programs for Indian
post-doctorate researchers to train with NIH as well as cooperation
including research in India.

-- In Egypt NAMRU was a key part of the health relationship, and it
performed many collaborative research projects with the government.
Health was also an important part of the USAID operation.

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MINISTER SAYS SHE WANTS TO COOPERATE
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4. The Minister reaffirmed that she wants to build a strong
relationship with the USG on health, especially on research. After
indicating a particular interest in training opportunities, she
asked if "brain drain" was a problem in the relationship with India.
Hume responded that Indonesia would have to greatly increase the
number of its scientists qualified to engage in post doctoral
research. According to Indonesian government statistics, the
country has only 8,000 PHDs, while each year 60,000 Indians are
studying for doctoral degrees in the USA. The USG would welcome an
opportunity to build the relationship through educating and training
more scientists and encouraging a culture conducive to clinical
research in Indonesia. However, a stronger relationship would have
to include completion of the positive talks on sample sharing and
resolution of the issues still confronted by NAMRU-2. The USG could
look at different ways to address Indonesian concerns. The form of
the recently concluded bi-national board on education might be a
model. Supari welcomed the offer to look for a way to resolve these
issues and said she would like to meet again after the May WHO
session.

JAKARTA 00000679 002 OF 002




5. Note: Following the meeting, Dr. Widjaja Lukito, Senior Advisor
to the Minister of Health, called Embassy staff to indicate that
Supari was pleased with the meeting. She had already directed her
staff to convene a study group to consider the Ambassador's NAMRU-2
proposal.

HUME