Family doctor

From Suara Karya

Suara Karya's editorial on June 25, 1994 entitled Challenges to doctors indirectly supports the development of the Family Doctors program in Indonesia. Doctors who are interested in this program are grouped in an institution called College of Indonesian Family Doctors. The group was established in 1991, but it has made slow progress so far.

Although in foreign countries, including other ASEAN countries, family doctors programs are a recognized branch of medical science, that is not the case in Indonesia. In order to obtain the government's recognition some requirements must be fulfilled, such as: the existence of an institution of the profession, a journal of family doctors program, society's demand for the service of family doctors, curriculum of family doctors, potential market and recognition from the Indonesian Medical Association. Demands for services of family doctors have come from several health program related companies like PT Askes (health insurance), PT. Astek (employees' insurance) and PT Bintang Jasa.

And in support of this program the Ministry of Health has established a working group for family doctors development. We hope the family doctors program will make satisfactory progress.

DR. SUDJOKO KUSWADJI

Secretary General

College of Family Doctors

Jakarta