Members Of The House Of Representatives Criticize The Discourse Of General Doctors Can Perform Caesar Operations: We're Talking About Life

JAKARTA - Member of Commission IX of the House of Representatives Netty Prasetiyani Aher criticized the Ministry of Health's plan to provide training to general practitioners in disadvantaged, frontier and outermost (3T) areas to handle obstetric and cesarean services.

According to Netty, caesarean operations cannot be carried out carelessly by medical personnel who do not have qualifications. He reminded that patient safety and medical professional standards should not be compromised.

"copy, especially those requiring surgery, is a high-risk medical process," said Netty Prasetiyani Aher, Friday, May 16.

"Doctors who specialize in obgyn are studying and training for a long time to have the expertise to handle operations. Short training for general practitioners cannot immediately replace that," he continued.

Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin previously stated that this training was intended so that general practitioners in the 3T area could handle emergency cases. Especially considering the number of maternal deaths due to the absence of specialist doctors in remote areas.

What is stealing public attention is the case experienced by a future mother in Maumere, Sikka Regency, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT). A pregnant woman named Maria Yunita (36), died after failing surgery when she was about to give birth to her first child.

The reason was that at the TC. Hillers Hospital, Maumere, there was no anesthetician so that cesarean operations could not be carried out. The TC Hillers Hospital had made a referral, but the ER informed Larantuka Hospital that it also did not have an anesthetician specialist.

In addition, the ICU room at Larantuka Hospital, East Flores Regency is also in the renovation stage.

The hospital will then refer the victim again to Lewoleba Hospital in Lembata Regency who must cross the sea.

However, after consultation with a doctor at Lewoleba Hospital, the consideration of the condition of patients who have to cross the sea and travel for about three hours will be very risky, the referral to Lewoleba Hospital has finally been canceled.

The doctor guarding the TC. Hillers Hospital then told the victim that he could be referred to the Kewapante Hospital, Sikka Regency to undergo caesarean surgery for his first child. But unfortunately, after waiting several hours, the patient failed to be referred for the fourth time.

After fasting and drinking only, finally on Wednesday, April 9, at 23.00 WITA, the victim breathed his last with the baby in his womb.

Netty also urged the Ministry of Health to take systemic and long-term steps in overcoming the shortage of specialists, instead of transferring the duties of obgyn specialists to general practitioners. He was worried that a similar incident would happen again because general practitioner facilities and expertise helped with inadequate childbirth.

The solution is not to cut the quality of specialist doctor education, but to accelerate the distribution and placement of obgyns to regions, expand regional-based PPDS scholarships, improve incentives, and work facilities. The referral system and medical transportation must also be strengthened," said Netty.

This member of the House of Representatives Health Commission added that if additional training for general practitioners is still carried out, then there must be clear limits on authority. In addition, said Netty, there must also be strict supervision and accountable regulations.

"Equality of access to health services is important, but do not sacrifice the safety of mothers and babies. We are talking about lives," he concluded.