IDI Expects Free Swab Test For All Health Workers

JAKARTA - The Executive Board of the Indonesian Doctors Association (PB IDI) hopes that the free swab test from the COVID-19 Handling Task Force can be carried out for all health workers in the country to provide a sense of protection in carrying out their duties.

"I ask that it be implemented in all regions as soon as possible," said Zubairi Djoerban, head of the PB IDI COVID-19 Task Force when contacted in Jakarta, reported by Antara, Thursday, October 8.

Because, he said, basically all health workers have the same rights in terms of safety protection while on duty. Therefore, it is hoped that free swab tests can be carried out in all regions, especially provinces or red zone areas.

In fact, areas that are far from the center, indirectly, will have more difficulties in terms of facilities if there are health workers who are exposed to the virus, so this should be prioritized.

Nevertheless, Zubairi appreciated the free swab test policy carried out by the government through the COVID-19 Handling Task Force. According to him, the move is the government's effort to protect health workers from being exposed to the corona virus.

PB IDI assessed that the policy of free swab tests, incentives for health workers and provision of personal protective equipment (PPE) has been running well. It's just that in some places there are still complaints, for example regarding the provision of incentives for health workers.

For example, PB IDI received an incentive report from a health worker in Labuan Bajo, East Nusa Tenggara, which has not yet been paid. He hopes the government will immediately pay for it in the near future.

"There is a friend in Labuan Bajo who has not accepted it, I was scolded ," he said.