RI updates regulation to protect health workers after doctor death

Jakarta (ANTARA) - The government is currently drafting a Presidential Regulation on the Protection of the Security and Safety of Medical and Healthcare Workers, in response to the results of the investigation into the death of Dr. Eliza Priscila Utami Pakaenoni.

The investigation revealed three key findings: alleged verbal intimidation by community members, medical treatment that adhered to established procedures, and weak coordination regarding the protection of healthcare workers between healthcare facilities, the Health Office, and the local government.

"Based on Article 273 of Law Number 17 of 2023 concerning Health, healthcare workers have the right to stop services if they experience violence, harassment, or bullying, except in life-saving emergency situations. No doctor should ever feel afraid while on duty," the Director General of Human Resources for Health at the Ministry of Health, Dr. Yuli Farianti, said on Saturday (July 4).

The case of Dr. Eliza, also known as Dr. Icha, took place in North Central Timor District, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT), last June.

She was found dead in an apparent self-inflicted tragedy, suspected to have suffered from severe depression due to intimidation by a member of the North Central Timor District Regional People's Representative Council (DPRD).

According to Farianti, the investigation was conducted at the instruction of the Minister of Health and the request of the East Nusa Tenggara Governor.

"All findings will be submitted to the police since the case has entered the criminal investigation stage," she emphasized.

Meanwhile, the ministry's Acting Inspector General, Rudi Supriatna, said the investigation team had gathered information from various parties, including the doctor on duty, the witness nurse at Leona Hospital emergency room, colleagues, and the deceased's parents in Kupang.

Supriatna also criticized the lack of response from hospital security personnel during the incident.

"At the time of the incident in the emergency room, security officers were passive and made no effort to control the situation. The emergency room is a restricted area with strict standard operating procedures (SOPs). Unauthorized persons are prohibited from entering to avoid disrupting the concentration of healthcare workers treating critical patients," he pointed out.

To prevent similar incidents from occurring, the Ministry of Health advises the public to submit any complaints about services via the official Halo Kemenkes hotline at 1500-567 and refrain from intimidating officers in the field.

"We also opened a Whistleblowing System (WBS) channel accessible for all healthcare workers experiencing bullying or threats to their job security," he concluded.

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Translator: Mecca Yumna, Resinta Sulistiyandari

Editor: Arie Novarina

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