Reportedly Dismissed Permanently, IDI Ethics Commission Confirms Currently Doctor Terawan Is Still A Member Of IDI

Former Minister of Health Terawan Agus Putranto. (Kemenkes.go.id).jpg

JAKARTA - Member of the Indonesian Doctors Association (IDI) James Allan Rarung emphasized that the decision to dismiss former Health Minister Terawan Agus Putranto from IDI membership is not yet definitive. The decision still has to go through various processes.

Allan as the Head of the Ethics, Discipline and Law Commission of the 31st IDI congress in Banda Aceh 2022 said that Terawan's expulsion from IDI was only a decision of the Medical Ethics Honorary Council (MKEK).

"Dr. Terawan is currently still a member of IDI. The dismissal will last for a period of 28 working days. In Article 8 point 4 ART IDI, it is stated that members who are suspended and or dismissed can defend themselves in a designated forum. So, there is still a process," said James in a written statement received Wednesday, March 30.

Previously, it was rumored that Terawan had been dismissed as an IDI member based on the results of the MKEK special session meeting at the 31st IDI Congress in Banda Aceh 2022.

According to James, there is still a process that is still being pursued regarding the decision, according to the Bylaws (ART) IDI Article 8 point 3 is the authority of the IDI Executive Board (PB).

For this reason, the decision to dismiss Terawan must go through the process of the Executive Board Meeting, Central Executive Meeting (MPP) and IDI Executive Leadership Meeting.

If the meetings agree to issue a decision on the dismissal, the General Chairperson of the IDI Executive Board may issue an official letter regarding the dismissal and sign it.

The process can start if within 28 working days, the IDI Executive Board has been formed and inaugurated.

James said that after the official dismissal letter was issued, Terawan could use his right to defend himself in accordance with ART IDI Article 8 point 4.

"The process is still long and everything good can happen during the process. Therefore, let's cool down together and calm all parties who might not understand our internal IDI process, then make a lot of comments, moreover it is more unfortunate that it was done also by fellow IDI members," he said.

As is known, the basis for Terawan's dismissal was determined in the MKEK IDI which was held on 8 February. Terawan was judged to have committed a serious ethical misconduct or a serious ethical violation.

One of them is related to the Nusantara vaccine to prevent COVID-19 cases. Terawan was considered by IDI to have overstepped the procedure, namely to promote to the wider community about the Nusantara vaccine before the vaccine research was completed.

Terawan has developed the Nusantara vaccine since 2020. However, along the way, the vaccine has become a polemic and has resulted in debate. The implementation of clinical trials in the research phase is considered inappropriate.

BPOM insists that Nusantara's vaccine has not complied with procedures during a hearing with Commission IX of the DPR at the Senayan Parliamentary Complex, Jakarta, Wednesday, March 14, 2021.