Four participants in the Indonesian Medical Internship Program (PIDI) have reportedly died over the past three months due to exhaustion and excessive workloads. The competency and independence-building program for newly graduated doctors has been implemented since 2008 under Law No. 29 of 2004 on Medical Practice. However, differences in the characteristics of training sites or healthcare facilities where participants serve have resulted in unequal workloads and treatment among participants. Consequently, various stressors have emerged that threaten the physical health of the internship doctors themselves.
A health law academic at the Faculty of Law, Universitas Gadjah Mada (FH UGM), Dr. Rimawati, S.H., M.Hum., explained that the Medical Internship Program is regulated under Law No. 29 of 2004 on Medical Practice and Law No. 20 of 2013 on Medical Education.
“All medical students who have taken the physician’s oath are required to undergo this internship program. After completing the one-year internship, they will receive a Practice License (SIP) and may then carry out medical practice independently or within healthcare facilities,” she said on Tuesday (May 19).
In general, participants in the Medical Internship Program may choose their placement locations through a centralized selection mechanism, either within their local region or in other provinces. If quotas for local and regional placements have been filled, participants may select from the remaining placements across Indonesia. Internship sites with sufficient numbers of medical personnel are considered ideal locations.
However, in several regions with limited healthcare workers, participants are required to work harder because practice schedules tend to be more demanding.
“Moreover, some regions view internship doctors as additional professional staff and assign them responsibilities equivalent to fully licensed professionals. They are excessively utilized,” she explained.
From a legal perspective, Rimawati stated that intern doctors work under the supervision of supervisors or mentoring physicians. Supervising physicians are authorized to monitor, evaluate, and perform protective functions, ensuring the welfare of internship doctors, in coordination with the healthcare facility and relevant local governments.
“If the health office is concerned and the local government pays attention, participants will be safe. But if the principle is merely taking advantage of the situation, then all burdens will be placed on the internship doctors,” she said.
From the perspective of health law, the deaths of these internship doctors serve as a reminder that program regulations should not only ensure participants’ competence but must also prioritize their welfare. When internship doctors commit negligence or errors, they may face civil, criminal, or administrative lawsuits depending on the nature of the misconduct. The same principle also applies if local governments, healthcare facilities, or supervising physicians fail to carry out their protective and monitoring functions in accordance with regulations.
“We should not blame one another; we must reflect on this situation. If this program is intended to foster independence, the government must ensure proper monitoring in areas with high patient volumes and strengthen the distribution of healthcare workers,” she concluded.
Author: Ika Agustine
Editor: Gusti Grehenson
Post-editor: Zabrina Kumara
Photo: Magnific