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Diponegoro medical school admits bullying in residency program
Undip's dean of medicine has acknowledged systemic bullying among its anethesiology residents at Kariadi hospital, after an investigation led by the Health Ministry discovered abuses including physical harassment, forced overtime and extortion.
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A security guard walks on Aug. 15, 2024 past a “Zero Bullying Movement” displayed on a fence of Dr. Kariadi Central General Hospital in Semarang, Central Java, an affiliate of the Diponegoro University Medical School. (Antara/Aji Styawan)
T
he Diponegoro University (Undip) medical school in Semarang, Central Java, has admitted to systematic bullying among its anesthesiology residents over the past few years, including physical harassment, involuntary overtime and extortion.
“We found more cases of residents ordered to work overtime and pay money [to their seniors],” dean of medicine Yan Wisnu Prajoko told a press briefing on Friday, as quoted by Kompas.com.
He said Undip anesthesiology residents were told to work outside their assigned hours in the intensive care unit (ICU) and assist with all surgeries at Dr. Kariadi Central General Hospital, an affiliate hospital belonging to the Health Ministry.
But the high number of Undip residents, which could reach up to 84, as well as the around 20 anesthesiologists employed at the hospital should not require residents to work overtime, Yan said.
Aside from overtime, residents had been “asked” during their first semester to pay for their seniors’ personal expenses, such as housing and car rental, leading to exorbitant amounts of between Rp 20 million (US$1,297) and Rp 40 million each, according to the medical dean.
“The anesthesiology program [enrolls] up to 11 students each semester. These students told the investigation team [from the Health Ministry] about these payments. This is a significant finding by the team,” said Yan.
He added that while paying for their seniors’ expenses was common practice in medical residencies, the amount residents of the anesthesiology program paid was much higher than those in other programs.
