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Association urges reinstatement of mandatory posting
The government should reinstate the requirement for medical school graduates to be assigned to regions lacking doctors in a bid to achieve Millenium Development Goals (MDGs), a group has urged
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he government should reinstate the requirement for medical school graduates to be assigned to regions lacking doctors in a bid to achieve Millenium Development Goals (MDGs), a group has urged.
The recommendation by the Indonesian Internists Association (PAPDI) was announced at its 14th national congress held from Nov. 11 to 14, which was attended by 3,000 internists from all over the country.
PAPDI chairman Aru W. Sudoyo said Tuesday the mandatory system, referred to as PTT, was needed to fill the shortfall of doctors in some regions.
"Hospitals in many regions across the country have complained about a lack of doctors," he told a press conference.
"The reinstatement of such a requirement can fill the gap between the supply and demand for doctors," he added.
The MDGs, a UN initiative, sets targets focusing on reducing extreme poverty, reducing infant and maternal mortality rates, fighting against communicable diseases and preserving the environment.
Under PTT requirements, newly graduated doctors were assigned to public health centers in remote areas. Former health minister Siti Fadillah Supari revoked the PTT requirement in 2004.
Currently, medical school graduates have more immediate career choices, including becoming university lecturers and civil servants at the Health Ministry.
Ari Fahrial Syam, an internist attending the congress, said the PTT requirement would help new doctors in gaining experience.
"This will give them a head start in obtaining their licenses," he said.
He said graduates should work in public health centers for at least a year.
The Indonesian Doctors Council (KKI) said that, as of August 2008, there were 56,750 general practitioners and 15,499 medical specialists in Indonesia. There are 6,549 doctors assigned to public health centers across the archipelago.
Aru said that this requirement would also apply to physicians looking to become internists.
He said he expected to talk with Health Minister Endang Rahayu Sedyaningsih during PAPDI's next meeting, which will be held from Nov. 18 to 21.
"We will also ask officials from regional administrations to facilitate this by offering security and attractive remunerations for those being assigned," he said.
"There is a need for more internists, as they handle common diseases such as hepatitis, haemorrhoids, and heart and kidney diseases," he added.
PAPDI also urged the government to assess the competency of foreign doctors before allowing them to work in the country.
"We need an office that can do background checks," Aru said.
"Currently, it is unclear whether the competency of foreign doctors should be checked in Indonesia or in their home countries."
He added that, due to the implementation of the ASEAN Free Trade Agreement, the number of foreign doctors working in Indonesia would increase significantly next year.
"Many private hospitals in large cities employ doctors from Korea, Singapore and Australia," he said. (nia)
