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Medical school head reinstated after controversial dismissal
Airlangga University professor Budi Santoso has been reinstated as the university's medical school dean following a backlash against the East Java university for dismissing Budi earlier this month allegedly due to his criticism of the government.
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Young physicians hold posters during a demonstration on July 4, 2024, in front of Airlangga University's school of medicine in Surabaya, East Java. During the protest, which was also attended by professors and other academics on campus, they demanded that the university rector reinstate Budi Santoso as the dean of the faculty to complete his term. Budi was dismissed after expressing opposition to the Health Ministry's plan to invite foreign doctors to practice in Indonesia. (Antara/Didik Suhartono)
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irlangga University professor Budi Santoso has been reinstated as the medical school dean following a backlash against the East Java university for dismissing Budi earlier this month allegedly due to his criticism of the government.
Budi made a biting comment to the media on June 27 that he was against the Health Ministry’s plan to invite foreign doctors to make up for Indonesia’s medical staff shortages, noting that local medical schools could produce graduates of the same quality as foreign talent.
Shortly after, on July 1, Budi was reportedly summoned by the university’s rector and was dismissed from his position, raising speculation that the dismissal was because of his public criticism.
The university’s move sparked outrage from the public and constitutional law experts, with the latter claiming that Budi’s removal violated his rights to freedom of expression and academic freedom as guaranteed in the 1945 Constitution and the 2012 University Law, respectively.
Dozens of the university’s lecturers, staff members, students and alumni staged a protest against the dismissal last week. Some suggested that all lecturers, vice deans and staff remained on strike until Budi was reinstated as the medical school dean.
Read also: Critics slam med school head dismissal, demand his reinstatement
The professor was eventually reinstated as dean on Monday following the protests, as announced by Airlangga University’s rector Mohammad Nasih during a press conference on Tuesday.
