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Underpaid doctors, underserviced health
The latest survey by Junior Doctor Network Indonesia shows 5.5 percent of general practitioners are paid the Indonesia Medical Association’s recommendation of Rp 12.5 million for a 40 hour working week.
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The latest survey by Junior Doctor Network Indonesia shows 5.5 percent of general practitioners are paid the Indonesia Medical Association’s recommendation of Rp 12.5 million for a 40 hour working week. (Shutterstock/Roongroj Sookjai)
T
he maldistribution of health workers is a chronic problem in Indonesia. Many public health centers lack doctors while the incentive system to attract health workers to remote areas is still lacking.
When presidential candidate Prabowo Subianto expressed concern for physicians who are paid less than parking officers, his audience went wild. Is the opinion valid? We were reminded of this disturbing question during the commemoration of World Health Day on April 7.
Parking officers in the capital are paid according to the regional minimum wage, which is Rp 3.6 million (US$254.33) but this will reportedly increase to Rp 3.9 million this year.
The Health Ministry claimed doctors who joined the Nusantara Sehat (Healthy Indonesia) program to strengthen primary health services are paid Rp 11.2 million monthly. However, the program involves only a small number of doctors.
The latest survey by Junior Doctor Network Indonesia shows 5.5 percent of general practitioners are paid the Indonesia Medical Association’s recommendation of Rp 12.5 million for a 40 hour working week.
However, this recommendation means virtually nothing in the absence of regulations.
Every doctor is entitled to work at three medical facilities; many indeed need to work in two or three places to earn a sufficient income.
