IDI continues protests against planned primary doctor program

The Indonesian Doctors Association (IDI) has continued its protests against the government’s plan to open the primary healthcare physicians program as a new study program, saying it would unnecessarily prolong medical students' studies.

IDI chairman Ilham Oetama Masis said on Wednesday that if the government insisted on executing the plan, it would hamper medical services to the public, as medical students would need to study longer to be able to practice medicine once the new program takes effect.

“The new program has no difference with the specialist program. There will be overlapping functions. All subjects in the primary care program are available in the specialist program,” Ilham said.

“If the government forces it, they will unlikely be able to implement it well. As a consequence, they will lose public trust,” he added.

(Read also: Doctors to stage rally Monday at Monas, palace)

The primary care program is stipulated under the 2013 Medical Education Law. The government was set to open the new study program in 17 universities across the country in December last year, but halted the plan due to numerous protests.

Under the program, medical students must continue an additional two to three years of education after completing their four-year undergraduate medical education, in addition to their professional studies and internships. So, they could spend more than eight years studying before receiving a license to practice. (evi)