Competency Above The ASEAN Country Average, ATHLM Workers Are Not Occupied By Foreign Workers

Chairman of the Association of Indonesian Medical Laboratory Technology Experts (Patelki) Atna Permana (second from the left). (Photo: Doc. Patelki)

JAKARTA The General Chairperson of the Association of Indonesian Medical Laboratory Technologists (Patelki) Atna Permana requested that medical laboratory (ATLM) technology experts at public, private, and health center hospitals in various areas not be occupied by foreign workers.

Moreover, he continued, the competence of ATLM personnel from Indonesia is above the average in ASEAN countries.

"There is an opportunity to include foreign workers. The reason is because the number of ATLM personnel is still small," said Atna Permana, M Bioned, PhD on the sidelines of the 5K TLM Funwalk which was held by Patelki in Jakarta, Sunday, November 17.

Atna revealed that basically Indonesia is not cheating on ATLM personnel. Currently, Patelki members have reached 90,000.

It's just that the distribution of ATLM personnel has not been evenly distributed to remote regional health centers.

Especially if the ATLM staff is from among women, so there are many things that must be fulfilled, including the permission of their parents who may be worried about the fate of their baby.

"It was one of the challenges for Patelki to fill the void," he said.

Atna said, to overcome the shortage of ATLM personnel, her party had also discussed with the Ministry of Health (Kemenkes).

He also suggested that there be an intensive increase or salary for medical laboratory technology personnel.

In addition, there is an increase in the study program for ATLM staff at various universities to reach the Applied Bachelor's level to the Masters.

The hope of Patelki in synergy with the government's expectations. This is stated in the results of the organizational session which in general states that the consolidation, harmonization and existence of ATLM must remain consistent and increase to become more professional, more resilient and international competitive. The main aspects that are Patelki's strategic policies include increasing ATLM education and competence as well as updating of special agencies for Patelki," he explained.

Meanwhile, Deputy General Chair II Patelki Sigit Mariyanto added that Patelki is ready to collaborate with the Prabowo Subianto government.

One of them is holding scientific activities with the scope of the role of the ATLM function and the latest laboratory examinations that are integrated with advanced technology, for infectious diseases and non-communicable diseases.

"We believe that all changes to the mechanism in health lead to better changes," he added.