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Association urges House to drop new doctor classification
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Two dentists check a patient’s teeth at Trisakti University in Jakarta. (kompas.com/File)
T
he Indonesian Doctors Association (IDI) has urged the House of Representatives to scrap the primary healthcare physicians (DLP) classification stipulated in the 2013 Medical Education Law, claiming it has the potential to cause conflicts among general practitioners.
IDI secretary-general M. Adib Khumaidi criticized the program, saying it had created a new class in the general practitioners’ field.
Currently, the medical practice law classifies doctors as general practitioners, specialist doctors, dentists or specialized dentists. With the Medical Education Law, DLP will be deemed equal to specialist doctors.
(Read also: House, IDI to find solutions to primary health care program)
Existing doctors who want to be classified as DPL need to take additional classes.
"With the DLP system, there are three types of doctors who practice in general fields, namely general practitioners, family doctors and DLP. What will make DLP different to general practitioners then? This new classification will create conflict among doctors," Adib told The Jakarta Post on Wednesday.
The IDI regretted that although a government regulation related to the law had not been issued, the Health Ministry had started disseminating the program. In some regions, the ministry has also conducted training for educators in the DLP program.
"Now, general practitioners are worried if they don't join the DLP medical program they will not be able to cooperate with Healthcare and Social Security Agency and national health insurance program," he said.
Adib said the government should not underestimate the quality of existing general practitioners by conducting the DLP program, which will require billions of rupiah from the state budget. (bbn)
