Covid-19 and Doctors: Sufficient Amount, Unequal Distribution
The Covid-19 pandemic continues to claim victims. Among them, doctors and health workers. According to data from the Indonesian Doctors Association (IDI), from March to the end of October 2020, 161 doctors have died as a result of being infected with this virus. If the number of doctors continues to decrease, then what should be done? This material was discussed in the COVID-19 webinar: The Number of Doctors Continues to Decrease, So What? on Friday (23/10) last week.
The webinar held by President University, a private university located in the Jababeka industrial area - the largest industrial area in Asia, presented Prof. Dr. Aris Junaidi, Director of Learning and Student Affairs, Ministry of Education and Culture, Prof. Dr. Usman Chatib Warsa, Ph.D, SpMK, General Chair of LAM-PTKes, Dr. H. Marzuki Alie, SE, MM., Chairman of the DPR-RI (2009-2014), and Dr. dr. Bayu Prawira Hie, MBA, management and digital transformation expert. The webinar was hosted by Prof. Dr. Jony Oktavian Haryanto, Rector of President University.
Aris Junaidi explained that the government has imposed a moratorium on the opening of the Medical Faculty since 2014. The moratorium was opened the following year, but was reinstated in 2016. Why? "The government wants to focus on improving the quality of education in the Faculty of Medicine by encouraging faculties that were accredited B and C to become accredited A," said Aris. Currently there are 91 medical faculties in various universities throughout Indonesia, only 30 or 33% are accredited A. Then, there are 43 faculties or 47% accredited B, and the rest are still C.
On the other side the availability of doctors has actually exceeded the target. In 2020 the government is targeting the number of doctors to reach 45.8 per 100,000 population, but the realization is already 53.6 per 100,000 population. "So, the problem is not the amount, but the distribution," said Aris. For example in Aceh, North Sumatra, DKI Jakarta, DI Yogyakarta, Bali and North Sulawesi, the ratio has even reached 70 doctors per 100,000 population. Meanwhile in West Sulawesi, NTT and North Maluku the ratio is only 25 doctors per 100,000 population.
Even though, Aris emphasized that the government did not impose a ban on universities wishing to open a Medical Faculty, as long as they met several requirements. Among other things, the opening of new Medical Faculties was carried out in areas with a low ratio of doctors.
Similar with Aris, Usman Chatib Warsa said that to ensure the quality of graduates, accreditation is important. Usman said, "The higher the quality of the Faculty of Medicine graduates, the higher the health status of a nation." In his presentation, Usman also mentioned the distribution of Medical Faculties / Programs in Indonesia. For example in DKI Jakarta there are 12 Faculties / Medical Study Programs, while in Papua there is only one. In East Java there are 13, while in each province in Kalimantan there is only one.
Meanwhile, Marzuki Alie highlighted the importance of increasing the number of doctors and developing the medical education system. In addition to ensuring quality, explained Marzuki, it is important that every graduate is willing to be placed in any area throughout Indonesia. "The uneven number of doctors is also caused by the geographical condition of Indonesia which consists of many islands," he said.
To overcome the shortage of doctors in several areas, Bayu Prawira Hie suggested that the government be willing to empower other health workers, such as midwives and nurses. Bayu also suggested that doctors focus on curative and rehabilitative efforts. As for preventive action, the government needs to empower the community to be able to do it independently. “In Here, information technology and digital technology can be very helpful," said Bayu Prawira closing his presentation. (LG)
Covid-19 dan Dokter: Jumlahnya Cukup, Distribusinya Timpang
Pandemi Covid-19 terus menelan korban. Di antaranya, para dokter dan tenaga kesehatan. Menurut data Ikatan Dokter Indonesia (IDI), sejak Maret hingga akhir Oktober 2020, sudah 161 dokter yang meninggal dunia akibat terinfeksi virus ini. Jika jumlah dokter terus berkurang, lalu apa yang mesti dilakukan? Materi itulah yang dibahas dalam webinar COVID-19: Jumlah Dokter Terus Berkurang, Lalu Apa? pada Jumat (23/10) pekan lalu.
Webinar yang diselenggarakan oleh President University, sebuah perguruan tinggi swasta yang berlokasi di kawasan industri Jababeka—kawasan industri terbesar di Asia, menghadirkan para pembicara Prof. Dr. Aris Junaidi, Direktur Pembelajaran dan Kemahasiswaan Kementerian Pendidikan dan Kebudayaan, Prof. Dr. Usman Chatib Warsa, Ph.D, SpMK, Ketua Umum LAM-PTKes, Dr. H. Marzuki Alie, SE, MM., Ketua DPR-RI (2009-2014), dan Dr. dr. Bayu Prawira Hie, MBA, pakar manajemen dan transformasi digital. Webinar dipandu oleh Prof. Dr. Jony Oktavian Haryanto, Rektor President University.
Aris Junaidi memaparkan bahwa pemerintah memberlakukan moratorium pembukaan Fakultas Kedokteran sejak tahun 2014. Moratorium itu dibuka pada tahun berikut, tetapi diberlakukan kembali pada 2016. Mengapa? “Pemerintah ingin fokus meningkatkan kualitas pendidikan Fakultas Kedokteran dengan mendorong fakultas yang semula terakreditas B dan C menjadi terakreditasi A,” ungkap Aris. Saat ini 91 Fakultas Kedokteran di berbagai perguruan tinggi di seluruh Indonesia, baru 30 atau 33% yang terakreditasi A. Lalu, ada 43 fakultas atau 47% yang terakreditasi B, dan sisanya masih C.
Di sisi lain, ketersediaan dokter sebenarnya sudah melebihi target. Pada 2020 pemerintah menargetkan jumlah dokter mencapai 45,8 per 100.000 penduduk, tetapi realisasinya sudah 53,6 per 100.000 penduduk. “Jadi, masalahnya bukan pada jumlah, tetapi distribusinya,” ucap Aris. Contohnya di Aceh, Sumatera Utara, DKI Jakarta, DI Yogyarakarta, Bali dan Sulawesi Utara, rasionya bahkan mencapai 70 dokter per 100.000 penduduk. Sementara di Sulawesi Barat, NTT dan Maluku Utara rasionya baru 25 dokter per 100.000 penduduk.
Meski begitu, Aris menegaskan bahwa pemerintah tidak menetapkan larangan bagi perguruan tinggi yang ingin membuka Fakultas Kedokteran, asal memenuhi beberapa persyaratan. Di antaranya, pembukaan Fakultas Kedokteran baru dilakukan di daerah-daerah dengan rasio jumlah dokter yang masih rendah.
Senada dengan Aris, Usman Chatib Warsa menegaskan bahwa untuk menjamin kualitas lulusan, akreditasi menjadi penting. Kata Usman, “Semakin tinggi kualitas lulusan Fakultas Kedokteran, semakin tinggi pula status kesehatan suatu bangsa.” Dalam paparannya, Usman juga menyoroti ketimbangan distribusi Fakultas/Program Studi Kedokteran di Indonesia. Contohnya, di DKI Jakarta ada 12 Fakultas/Program Studi Kedokteran, sementara di Papua hanya ada satu. Di Jawa Timur ada 13, sementara di setiap provinsi di Kalimantan hanya ada satu.
Sementara, Marzuki Alie menyoroti pentingnya penambahan jumlah dokter dan pengembangan sistem pendidikan kedokteran. Selain untuk menjamin kualitas, urai Marzuki, penting agar setiap lulusan bersedia ditempatkan di daerah mana pun di seluruh Indonesia. “Jumlah dokter yang tidak merata itu juga disebabkan oleh kondisi geografis Indonesia yang terdiri dari banyak pulau,” katanya.
Untuk mengatasi kekurangan jumlah dokter di beberapa daerah, Bayu Prawira Hie menyarankan agar pemerintah mau memberdayakan tenaga kesehatan lainnya, seperti bidan dan perawat. Bayu juga mengusulkan agar dokter fokus pada upaya kuratif dan rehabilitatif. Sementara, untuk langkah-langkah pencegahan, pemerintah perlu memberdayakan masyarakat agar mampu melakukannya secara mandiri. “Di sini, teknologi informasi dan teknologi digital bisa sangat membantu,” kata Bayu Prawira, menutup presentasinya. (LG)