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View all search resultsFourth intern doctor death in two months fuels calls for reform
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Health workers sit against a wall in this undated stock illustration of overworked doctors. (Courtesy of/Shutterstock)
T
he recent death of another intern doctor in Jambi, allegedly linked to overwork, marks the fourth such fatality in just two months and has intensified scrutiny of Indonesia’s medical internship program, with observers calling for urgent reforms to improve working conditions and trainee protection.
Myta Aprilia Azmi, an intern doctor from Sriwijaya University assigned to KH Daud Arif Regional Hospital in Jambi, died on May 1 after receiving intensive care at Mohammad Hoesin Hospital in Palembang, South Sumatra. She reportedly suffered from a lung infection but continued working without taking sick leave even as her condition deteriorated.
Public health expert Tjandra Yoga Aditama acknowledged that the demanding nature of medical work, including extremely long working hours, night shifts and intense workplace pressure, could take a serious toll on doctors’ own health.
He, therefore, urged policymakers to provide stronger protections for intern doctors to allow them to carry out duties without unnecessary physical and mental strain.
“The deaths of our four intern doctors must act as a catalyst to create a better, higher-quality, more humane and more dignified internship program,” he told The Jakarta Post on Monday.
Read also: Our doctors are dying
The Indonesian Medical Association (IDI) said it had long raised concerns over the safety and welfare of intern doctors and sent a letter to the Health Ministry in late April, urging reforms to the internship program overseen by the ministry.
