DPR Member Urges Healthcare Workers to Use Social Media Wisely: Avoid Comments That Hurt Patients

Member of Commission IX of the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR RI), Asep Rommy Romaya, has strongly condemned the actions of doctors and health workers who insulted BPJS Kesehatan patients on the Threads platform.

In relation to this, Asep asked doctors and health workers to be careful when commenting on social media, especially regarding health services.

“We remind them that even on social media, health workers remain public servants who bear a high moral responsibility,” Asep told reporters on Thursday, 6 August 2026.

“They must be careful when providing comments or responses to issues or events because the impact can be long-lasting,” he added.

He said that health workers and doctors are not merely a profession, but also a humanitarian calling. For this reason, Asep urged all parties working in health services to maintain their ethics.

“Social media is not a free space without boundaries. What health workers convey will be judged by the public and reflects the integrity of their profession,” said Asep.

“Therefore, they must use social media wisely, maintain their choice of words, and avoid comments that belittle or hurt patients and their families,” he continued.

He also requested that health workers or doctors who make negative comments that violate professional ethics be subject to sanctions and guidance.

“Enforcement of ethics is important not merely to punish, but so that similar incidents do not recur,” Asep explained.

Previously, BPJS Kesehatan spoke out regarding the widespread comments from health workers that were deemed to lack empathy towards the complaints of patients using BPJS.

The complaint emerged from a person named Yurizal Tri Chaerawan through his social media. At the time, he expressed his frustration at having to wait for an inpatient room for up to eight hours while he was ill.

In his post via the Threads account @yurizaltrich, he did not wish to name the hospital he visited.

Responding to the controversy, Head of Public Relations at BPJS Kesehatan, Rizky Anugerah, stressed that the agency also regretted the incident that occurred some time ago.

He emphasised that every JKN participant whose membership status is active is guaranteed health services in accordance with their rights and applicable regulations.