Don't Count Doctor's Deaths By Numbers, Look At The Big Hole After Their Departure

Photo illustration of medical personnel (Irfan Meidianto / VOI)

JAKARTA - The Indonesian Doctors Association (IDI) recorded the deaths of 19 doctors in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. It is ironic that death is dominated by disease transmission. The government failed miserably to protect its medical personnel. Nothing can be done to make up for that mistake. We don't want to get stuck with numbers. Because, one death is too many. After all, these deaths were too valuable to be matched with numbers. This death is a big hole for the Indonesian medical world and the life of Indonesian people in the future.

We chatted with Halik Malik who represented the IDI Executive Board. A great grief, he said. True, because most doctors who died, according to him, were seniors who had extraordinary skills in the medical world. Regarding experience, you don't need to ask. Not only a matter of experience and skills, most of the doctors who died occupied important positions, such as head of a hospital, official, or professor.

"We should grieve because the doctors who died were relatively senior and have expertise," Malik told VOI, Tuesday, April 7.

From another perspective, Malik invites us to look at the integrity and exemplary side shown by doctors who firmly hold their oath to serve people with limited medical equipment, including personal protection that the government cannot afford. At this point, we can already imagine the big hole. We can already feel that one death is too many.

From a scientific point of view, the death of a number of professors who are professors will have an impact on research activities and development of medical innovations. Not only directly, but also indirectly. The seeds of future doctors in various universities clearly still need knowledge from professors, who on average are still teaching until the end of their lives.

“Some of the professors who died were experts in medicine and public health. Prof. Bambang and Prof. Nasrim Kodim is a senior epidemiologist from the Faculty of Public Health (FKM) UI. Meanwhile, Prof. Iwan Prahasto is an expert in health economics and pharmacoeconomics from the UGM Faculty, "said Malik.

Photo illustration of medical personnel (Irfan Meidianto / VOI)

From the data we have collected, Nasrin Kodim is a professor who is an expert in the scientific field of Descriptive Epidemiology, Analytical Epidemiology, Epidemiology of Non-Communicable Diseases, Epidemiological Surveillance, Ecological Studies, Application of Epidemiology to Policy, Social Epidemiology. Before he died, Nasrin served as Head of the Center for Epidemiology Research and Surveillance at the FKM University of Indonesia.

Meanwhile, Iwan Prahasto is a professor who serves as Professor of Pharmacology, Vice Chancellor, and Dean of the Faculty of Medicine, Gadjah Mada University (UGM) Yogyakarta. Outside the campus, Iwan is also known to have served as the General Chair of the Indonesian Pharmacological Association from 2006 until the end of his life.

Furthermore, Bambang Sutrisna. He is a professor who has served as National Coordinator for Epidemiology of REACH Registry For Indonesia. He also served as Chair of the Epidemiology Study Program during the period (2000 - 2004). Currently Bambang also serves as a member of the Indonesian Medical Association, a member of the Indonesian Public Health Association, a member of the Indonesian Cardio Cerebrovascular Society, the Society for epidemiology Research and the Research Coordinator of the Indonesian Spine Society.

Apart from the three names above, other big names are listed in the PB IDI records. They are dr. Bartholomeus Bayu Satrio; dr. Exsenveny Lalopua, M.Kes; dr. Hadio Ali K, Sp.S; dr. Djoko Judodjoko, Sp.B; dr. Adi Mirsa Putra, Sp.THT-KL; dr. Laurentius Panggabean, Sp.KJ; dr. Ucok Martin Sp. P; dr. Efrizal Syamsudin, MM; dr. Ratih Purwarini, MSi; dr. Jeanne PMR Winaktu, SpBS; Dr. Bernadetta Tuwsnakotta Sp ENT; DR.Dr. Lukman Shebubakar SpOT (K); Dr. Ketty; Dr. Heru S. died; Dr. Wahyu Hidayat, SpTHT and Dr. Naek L. Tobing.

Don't be ignorant anymore

With so many professors, doctors full of experience and other medical personnel who died or contracted COVID-19 because of their duties, PB IDI then took the initiative to form an audit team to fully trace the deaths of these doctors.

In addition, they also continue to urge the government on several matters. Among other things, for the government to open data about those infected with COVID-19, including health workers. This official data, said Malik, is important to analyze the risk factors and causes of transmission of this virus so that anticipatory measures can be taken. It is clear that the government should no longer be ignorant.

"This data is important for efforts to break the chain of transmission of COVID-19 in health facilities and in the community," he said.

Furthermore, that request has not yet been fulfilled. The central government must immediately provide personal protective equipment (PPE) in every health facility without exception. Moreover, at this time it was difficult to know who was exposed and who was not. Experience in the field has shown that many people are infected without showing symptoms. This is what makes the spread difficult to control.

A puskesmas officer in Banjarharjo, Brebes, Central Java with a makeshift PPE (Special)

Another note from PB IDI, said Malik, is about adjusting the health service system in each puskesmas, clinic and hospital. For patients who come to health facilities, screening is necessary to find out whether they have contracted COVID-19 or not.

"So, there is sorting, triage, and different service flows. "Modify the service system to reduce the risk of transmission in health facilities," he said.

Malik also mentioned the priority of the COVID-19 test using the Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) or Rapid Test method. According to him, this test must really be prioritized for people under surveillance (ODP), patients under surveillance (PDP) and medical personnel so that the chain of spreading this virus can be immediately cut off. This sorting is important to classify treatments according to medical risks.

Others, Malik encouraged the government to be more active in adapting the progressive steps that have resulted in the results of other countries. According to him, this is important in dealing with a pandemic situation, especially those caused by a new type of virus.

"No country is ready to face this pandemic, but learning from the current situation and experiences in other countries at least the government can be better prepared in the future by strengthening the health system and disaster mitigation system in Indonesia," he said.

Apart from the names mentioned in this article, there are still many other deaths that should not have occurred, the deaths of nurses and other medical workers that the government cannot make up for. However, of course the government can reduce the risk of another death with real support and protection. Provision of medical equipment for every person in the vanguard, might be a starting point.

"Finally, there should be a real appreciation and protection for medical personnel by the state or the president and others," said Malik.