The Ministry Of Health Is Not Involved In The Dismissal Of The Dean Of Unair, The Rejector Of Foreign Doctors

DOC/Prof Budi Santoso (next left) representing the Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Airlangga, signed a memorandum of understanding with the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, Sweden, Wednesday (19/6/2024). (ANTARA/HO-KBRI Stockholm).

JAKARTA - The Ministry of Health (Kemenkes) stated that it was not involved with the decision of the Rectorate of Airlangga University (Unair) to dismiss Prof. Budi Santoso from his position as Dean of the Faculty of Medicine, for refusing the government program to bring in foreign doctors to Indonesia.

"The news has nothing to do with the Ministry of Health. That's an internal problem for Unair and maybe further clarification with the Unair Rectorate," said Head of the Communication and Public Service Bureau of the Ministry of Health, Siti Nadia Tarmizi, as reported by ANTARA, Wednesday, July 3.

The news began with a statement by Prof Budi Santoso circulating on WhatsApp Group (WAG) Lecturer FK Unair today.

In his statement, Budi Santoso said goodbye to around 300 members of the group, after accepting the Rectorate of Unair's decision to dismiss him from the position of Dean of FK Unair.

"As of today, I am dismissed as Dean of FK Unair. I accept it gracefully and sincerely. Sorry as long as I lead FK Unair there is a mistake and a mistake, let's continue to fight for our beloved FK Unair to continue to progress and develop," said Budi Santoso's statement in the WAG.

When confirmed, Budi Santoso confirmed his statement as a form of his obligation to say goodbye to lecturers and seniors.

"That's right, that's my message in the FK Uniar lecturer group. It's true that I was dismissed as of today," he said.

When asked if it was related to his self-statement rejecting the foreign doctor program in Indonesia, Budi Santoso confirmed this.

"Yes. My process to be summoned is related to that," he said.

He thought that there was a difference of opinion between Unair's leadership and himself regarding the Ministry of Health's program to bring in foreign doctors.

"Because the rector of my leadership and I have different opinions, and I am declared different, yes, his decision is accepted. But, if I voice my conscience, I think if all doctors are asked, is there willing to be a foreign doctor? I'm sure the answer is no," he said.

According to Budi Santoso, he was summoned by the Unair Rectorate on Monday (1/7) to clarify Budi's statement rejecting the foreign doctor program in Indonesia. Meanwhile, he received the decision to stop him today.

Budi Santoso in his personal statement said he did not agree with the foreign doctor program in Indonesia.

"Personally and institutionally, we from the medical faculty disagree," he said.

Prof. Budi believes 92 Faculty of Medicine in Indonesia is able to pass quality doctors. In fact, the quality is not inferior to foreign doctors.

Law Number 17 of 2023 concerning Health regulates the requirements and limits for medical personnel and health workers of foreign nationals (WNA) who want to practice in Indonesia.

Minister of Health Budi Gunadi Sadikin said the mission of the program was to save around 12 thousand infants' lives per year who were at risk of dying from congenital heart disorders.

The ability of doctors in Indonesia to have heart surgery is only around 6,000 patients per year, while treatment of congenital heart disorders requires rapid surgery.

"These six thousand babies, if not handled, have a high risk of dying. If we wait, the risk will be higher," he said.