Minister Of Health Suggests General Doctors Can Perform Caesar Operations

JAKARTA - Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin suggested that general practitioners be given the authority to carry out caesarean operations, especially in remote areas. This discourse is said to be in line with the plan of President-elect Prabowo Subianto who wants to build 66 hospitals in disadvantaged areas.

Budi revealed that during visits to a number of areas such as Nias, Sumba, and Lampung, he still often receives reports regarding the difficulty of accessing health services, especially for pregnant women.

"From my visit, there are still many people who have difficulty getting health services, including pregnant women who need emergency assistance," Budi told reporters at the DPR/MPR Complex, Wednesday, May 14.

Due to this condition, Budi encouraged the existence of a task-shifting, namely the transfer of certain medical duties to other health workers. He emphasized that this discourse is not new and has been recognized by the World Health Organization (WHO).

"WHO allows general practitioners to carry out life-saving actions, including caesarean operations, as long as they have the competencies needed," he explained.

Budi also highlighted the lack of specialist doctors in Indonesia, which is a challenge in equitable health services. Therefore, according to him, general practitioner training for emergency medical treatment is a realistic solution.

"Please general practitioners equipped with emergency competencies that can save lives. So that we no longer need to see people die because they do not receive help," he said.

He added that regulations regarding general practitioners carrying out caesarean operations will soon be prepared so that the implementation can take place in the near future.