Responding To Terawan's Dismissal By IDI, Coordinating Minister For Human Development And Culture: Both Had Good Intentions But The Meeting Was Not Intense

Doctor Terawan/Photo: Ministry of Health Archives.go.id

JAKARTA - Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture (Menko PMK) Muhadjir Effendy, assessed that the dismissal of former Minister of Health (Menkes) Terawan Agus Putranto from a member of the Indonesian Doctors Association (IDI) was excessive. Because, the problems between the two parties can be resolved amicably.

Muhadjir assessed that Terawan and IDI actually had the same goal of serving the community. However, their communication was not smooth.

"So both of these (IDI and Terawan, ed.) have the same goal. IDI has the responsibility to uphold the professional code of ethics, Pak Terawan has a calling to make breakthroughs and innovations," said Muhadjir in his written statement quoted on Friday, April 1st.

"Only, maybe the level of the meeting that is not intense then becomes a prolonged problem," he added.

On this matter, Muhadjir said his party would follow up. Moreover, he has already spoken with the Minister of Health Budi Gunadi Sadikin and the newly inaugurated Chair of the IDI, Adib Khumaidi.

From that meeting, said Muhadjir, IDI was open in principle and would try to find common ground regarding the violation of the code of ethics that befell Terawan.

Furthermore, the former Minister of Education and Culture (Mendikbud) hopes that although IDI enforces discipline for members, there is room for breakthroughs. Moreover, in the world of medical science this kind of thing is important to do.

"Breakthroughs and innovations are very important, so that Indonesian medical science does not stagnate," he emphasized.

"If no one makes innovation breakthroughs, we are worried that the transformation acceleration program in the health sector will stagnate. The development of Indonesian medical science and practice could be far behind," he said.

Previously, the Honorary Council for Medical Ethics (MKEK) recommended the dismissal of former Health Minister Terawan Agus Putranto from the membership of the Indonesian Doctors Association (IDI) at the 31st IDI Congress held in Banda Aceh on Friday, March 25.

This is not the first time the MKEK has imposed a dismissal sanction on Dr. Terawan. In 2018, a temporary dismissal decision was also circulated because Terawan was considered to have violated the medical code of ethics through his brainwashing method.