Monthly Incentives To Keep Medical Officers Enthusiastic To Handle COVID-19

Illustrations (Irfan Meidianto / VOI)

JAKARTA - President Joko Widodo mourned the death of a number of medical personnel due to exposure to the corona virus or COVID-19. They contracted the corona virus while carrying out their duties to treat patients who had previously tested positive.

"On behalf of the government, country and people, I would like to express my deepest gratitude for his hard work, for his struggle, in dedicating himself to handling COVID-19," Jokowi said in a press conference at Wisma Atlet, Kemayoran, Central Jakarta, Monday, March 23.

From the case of the death of this health worker, Jokowi did not want to let other medical personnel become discouraged in treating corona positive patients, patients under surveillance (PDP), and people under surveillance (ODP).

Therefore, Jokowi will provide monthly incentives to these medical personnel. "Yesterday we had a meeting and it was decided, (the amount of the incentive) was calculated by the finance minister," he said.

The details, specialist doctors will be given Rp. 15 million per month, general practitioners and dentists Rp. 10 million per month, midwives and nurses Rp. 7.5 million per month, and other medical personnel will also be given Rp. 5 million.

Then, medical officers who die will be given compensation of Rp. 300 million. This incentive applies only to regions that have declared their territory as an emergency response.

As previously reported, three doctors reportedly died from exposure to the COVID-19 virus on Saturday, March 21. They are doctor Adi Mirsa Putra from Bekasi, doctor Djoko Judodjoko from Bogor, and doctor Hadio from Bintaro. One of them, Toni Daniel Silitonga, died from exhaustion.

According to the information received, the two victims, Adi Mirsa and Hadio, received treatment at the Friendship Hospital, while doctor Djoko died at the Gatot Soebroto Army Hospital, Jakarta.