Celebrating 40 Years of JEC: Advancing Eye Care and Improving Quality of Life in Indonesia

Jakarta, February 1, 2024 – JEC Eye Hospitals & Clinics, the leading eye care provider in Indonesia, marks its 40th anniversary with a renewed commitment to advancing vision and improving quality of life for the Indonesian people. Carrying the spirit of “40 Years of JEC: Let’s Go Extra Miles,” the celebration also highlights the launch of three new branches in 2024 and the continued expansion of JEC Academy, its flagship medical education program.

The milestone event was attended by the Minister of Health, Budi Gunadi Sadikin, alongside JEC co-founder and Commissioner, Dr. Darwan M. Purba, SpM(K), and President Director of JEC Corporate, DR. Dr. Johan A. Hutauruk, SpM(K).

“One of our national goals is for Indonesia to become a developed country—and good health is the foundation. People must not be left blind or unable to see. JEC plays an important role in ensuring that vision care is accessible for all Indonesians. My hope is that more JEC professionals will emerge across the country, and that JEC of the future will continue to be stronger than today” said Minister of Health, Budi Gunadi Sadikin.

According to the Ministry of Health, around 31.2 million Indonesians live with vision impairment, and 5.7 million are blind. Currently, Indonesia has 2,000 ophthalmologists but needs at least 2,000 more to meet national demands. To support this, the government has opened pathways for formal medical education in hospitals, and JEC has taken the lead.

JEC Academy: Building the Next Generation of Eye Care Professionals

Since 1998, JEC Academy has been pioneering education and professional development for ophthalmologists and nurses. Backed by 34 certified trainers, the program has trained over 190 doctors and 170 nurses from across Indonesia and abroad. JEC Eye Hospitals & Clinics remains the first and only private eye hospital in Indonesia to establish such a structured training program.

“Our mission is to optimize vision and enhance the quality of life for Indonesians. Education and research are essential to achieving this, which is why JEC is committed to strengthening professional competencies through hospital-based training,” said Dr. dr. Johan A. Hutauruk, SpM(K), President Director of JEC Corporate.

Expanding Access to World-Class Eye Care

In 2024, JEC is opening three new branches to make international-standard eye care more accessible without patients needing to travel abroad. These include:

• Klinik Utama Mata JEC JAVA @ Pasuruan (opened January 2024, the only subspecialty eye clinic in Pasuruan)
• Rumah Sakit Mata JEC-Orbita @ Makassar (to be inaugurated February 3, 2024, the first JEC Eye Hospital in Eastern Indonesia)
• Klinik Utama JEC-Orbita @ Kendari (scheduled for the second half of 2024)

With these expansions, JEC now operates 15 facilities in 11 cities across 6 provinces, including 5 eye hospitals and 10 main eye clinics.

Proven Leadership in Eye Care

For four decades, JEC has been a pioneer in advanced ophthalmology in Indonesia:

• 150,000+ cataract surgeries successfully performed
• 15,000+ refractive surgeries including LASIK and ReLEx SMILE
• First in Indonesia to offer LASIK (1997) and Femtosecond Laser-Assisted Cataract Surgery (2012)
• Among the first in Southeast Asia to introduce ReLEx SMILE PRO (2022)

JEC is also the only eye hospital in Indonesia accredited by Joint Commission International (JCI), achieving four consecutive accreditations through JEC @ Kedoya (2014, 2017, 2020, 2023).

Internationally, JEC is a founding member of the ASEAN Association of Eye Hospitals (AAEH) and an active member of the World Association of Eye Hospitals (WAEH).

Social Responsibility: Bakti Katarak JEC

Beyond medical excellence, JEC has consistently contributed to the fight against preventable blindness in Indonesia. Through its Bakti Katarak JEC program, the network has provided over 3,000 free cataract surgeries for underprivileged patients. The initiative continues in 2024, with 50 free surgeries at JEC JAVA @ Pasuruan and 100 more scheduled for JEC-Orbita @ Makassar.

Looking Ahead

“Forty years is not the finish line—it’s a new beginning. JEC will continue to advance eye care, improve patient experience, and expand access across Indonesia. Our goal is simple: Indonesians should not need to go abroad for world-class eye care—they can trust JEC right here at home” added DR. Dr. Johan A. Hutauruk, SpM(K).

With its four-decade legacy, JEC Eye Hospitals & Clinics reaffirms its role as Indonesia’s leader in eye health—committed to healing, innovation, and education for decades to come.