Polemic Over Health Bill

There was an unusual sight in Jakarta on Monday (8/5/2023) when thousands of people wearing red and white held a demonstration in the area around the National Monument (Monas) and the Health Ministry.

FAKHRI FADLURROHMAN

Two health workers held up posters containing protest messages against the Health Bill during a demonstration in the area of the Arjuna Wiwaha Horse Statue, Central Jakarta, Monday (8/5/2023).

They were health workers from various professional organizations, namely the Indonesian Medical Association (IDI), the Indonesian Dental Association (PDGI), the Indonesian National Nurses Association (PPNI), the Indonesian Pharmacists Association (IAI) and the Indonesian Midwives Association (IBI). They were protesting the Health Bill, which has been drafted using the omnibus legislation method.

An omnibus bill gathers together many cross-sectoral regulations at different levels as a single regulatory product. Using an omnibus law is expected to more easily regulate all health affairs, from stakeholders, patients, health workers, pharmacies, hospitals, and to investors. On the other hand, this type of simplification also risks eliminating important issues because of the many rules and their wide scope that must be synchronized.

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> Discussion of Health Bill Expected to be More Transparent

> Draft ‘Omnibus’ Health Law Is Rejected

Therefore, controversy has not stopped since the omnibus method was adopted in Indonesia. As for the Health Bill, at least 15 professional and health laws will be merged into one. Polemic has arisen over the authority of professional organizations, especially in terms of medical licensure, medical schools, and medical councils, as well as investment issues and foreign health workers.

The issue has become protracted because a meeting has never been held between the government and the House of Representatives (DPR) on the one hand and professional health organizations on the other since the plan to deliberate the draft Health Omnibus Bill was unveiled in September 2022. Each side has communicated their aspirations in the public sphere, without any attempts at mediation to listen to each other. This culminated in Monday's peaceful demonstration.

KOMPAS/RIZA FATHONI

Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin explains the Health Bill at the Ministry of Health Building, Jakarta, 17 April 2023.

The polemic is quite concerning, considering that the Indonesian people need the health profession and infrastructure. Statistics Indonesia (BPS) estimated there were a total of 176,110 doctors nationwide in 2022. This figure included dentists, dental specialists, general physicians and medical specialist. In the same year, the country had 10,374 Puskesmas (community health centers).

Although mathematically, the number of doctors is sufficient to fill all Puskesmas across the country, in reality, hundreds of Puskesmas do not have any doctors at all and their facilities are limited. The majority of doctors and health workers, clinics, hospitals and pharmacies are found only in big cities on the island of Java.

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> Health Bill Controversy

Not surprisingly, there are many health problems in Indonesia that should be resolved by primary health care, such as stunting, dengue fever, and malaria, as well as maternal and newborn mortality.

Of course, these are not solely the problems of the Health Ministry and professional organizations. There are also factors related to regional leadership. However, the polemic should be resolved soon.

The Health Minister, who handled the Covid-19 pandemic successfully, together with health workers and professional organizations, should communicate better with each other. This way, their minds and energies can be focused on the effort to provide equal distribution of health services and health resources throughout Indonesia.

This article was translated by Hendarsyah Tarmizi.