Minimum Health Facilities, Reasons Doctor Ogah Was Placed In Remote Areas

Chairman of the Indonesian Doctors Association (PB-IDI) Adib Khumaidi revealed a number of reasons for the reluctance of doctors to work in rural and remote areas, thus having an impact on health services that are not evenly distributed in Indonesia.

"The unevenness of doctors and specialist doctors in the regions, the problem is not the doctor's problem. The problem is in work tools that are sometimes not available," said Adib Khumaidi, quoted by ANTARA, Thursday, May 25.

Adib said the facilities and infrastructure for health care facilities in rural and remote areas are still very limited. This condition is also influenced by basic infrastructure and supporting facilities in work areas that are not yet ideal.

He gave an example, a surgeon who intends to serve in Pandeglang, Banten, but where he works does not provide surgical equipment. But with high dedication, he continued to work until several years later provided with tools.

The next reasons are related to incentives and career paths that still need to be improved. One of them relates to job and functional allowances that are still diverse between midwives and nurses who are higher than specialist doctors and doctors.

Adib, who now practices at Cengkareng Hospital, West Jakarta, said that a number of doctors who work in remote areas are also subject to social problems and the quality of education.

"There are a number of doctors in the area who choose to work until their children complete their junior high school education, because if they work until their children finish high school in remote areas, their children cannot compete," he said.

According to Adib, the social aspect, education, and incentives for health workers in remote areas are complex problems that cannot be resolved with welfare allowances.

"Yesterday I went to North Maluku, even the specialist doctor received an allowance of Rp. 60 million. But those who want to go there are difficult to ask for forgiveness," he said.

Aspects of security guarantees in conflict-prone areas are also a consideration for medical personnel for health service equitable programs.

"In Papua, we have 700 prospective doctors from the Cendrawasih University medical student, most of whom are local sons. They are ready to work in Papua and it is easier because they are local people, than having to send doctors from other regions," he said.