Aftermath of Doctor's Death: TTU Regent Freezes Hospital's Licence

A medical worker named Eliza Princila Utami Pakaenomi, known as Dr Icha, died by suicide after suffering from severe depression. The incident was triggered by alleged intimidation from three members of the North Central Timor (TTU) Regional House of Representatives (DPRD) in East Nusa Tenggara (NTT). Dr Icha was found dead at her parents’ home in the Baumata housing complex, Kupang Regency, NTT, on Friday, 26 June 2026. She had previously received treatment for a week at Leona Hospital in Kefamenanu, where she also worked. The alleged intimidation occurred while Dr Icha was treating a patient who had been bitten by a snake; the three suspects are relatives of the patient. Since the intimidation incident until Dr Icha’s death, Leona Hospital had not submitted any report, either verbally or in writing. The TTU Regency government only learned of the case through mass media and social media reports. Due to the lack of clarity from the hospital, the local government had to directly gather information in the field. Consequently, the Regent of TTU took firm action by temporarily suspending the extension of the hospital’s operating licence. ‘From the beginning of the incident until the night at the funeral home, there was no clarification or written report regarding the chronology involving the late Dr Icha. So I ordered the Head of the Health Office to temporarily freeze the extension of Leona Hospital’s licence,’ the Regent stated on the Kabar Petang programme on tvOne. The Regent added that the Director of Leona Hospital eventually met with him to apologise and present the chronology of events. ‘But this morning, the Director of Leona Hospital came to see me to apologise and explain the sequence of events. So I told Leona Hospital to hold a press conference,’ he said. The firm action regarding the hospital’s licence freeze is part of efforts to protect the safety and security of health workers in carrying out their duties to serve public health. The victim’s sister, Dr Tiara, revealed that the three DPRD members allegedly carried out verbal intimidation.