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Speedy endorsement demanded for nursing bill

At least 150 nurses with the West-Nusa Tenggara (NTB) chapter of the Indonesian Nurses Association (PPNI) staged a rally in front of the province's Legislative Council (DPRD) and NTB governor's offices in Mataram, on Tuesday, asking for approval of a draft bill on nursing

Panca Nugraha (The Jakarta Post)

Mataram

Tue, May 21, 2013 Published on May. 21, 2013 Published on 2013-05-21T20:24:33+07:00

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t least 150 nurses with the West-Nusa Tenggara (NTB) chapter of the Indonesian Nurses Association (PPNI) staged a rally in front of the province's Legislative Council (DPRD) and NTB governor's offices in Mataram, on Tuesday, asking for approval of a draft bill on nursing.

'Nurses have been treated differently from doctors and midwives, although in terms of capacity and the quality of health services, we are not much different from them. In remote areas, we (nurses) are essential,' said PPNI NTB chairman, Badrun Nadiyanto.

In the health and medical fields, Badrun said, nurses are considered to have only a complimentary function. In regional bureaucracy, no nurse has been assigned to a strategic position.

Even nurses with a bachelor's degree are not permitted to offer medical services to the public although current regulation actually allows them to do so.

"Nurses have been often made a scapegoat when there are medical problems,' he told The Jakarta Post.

NTB has more than 9,000 nurses. (nai/ebf)