Foreign doctors 'only consultants'

JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Health Sujudi said over the weekend that only Indonesian doctors be allowed to practice medicine here in the next century.

Appeasing fears that trade liberalization would mean an influx of foreign doctors to the detriment of local doctors' opportunities, Sujudi said that foreign investors, however, would be able to build hospitals here.

Sujudi told Antara in Padang, West Sumatra, that foreign doctors were hired as consultants for several months by the ministry to share their medical expertise with Indonesian doctors, not to practice medicine.

"Indonesian patients do not pay a foreign doctor directly for services rendered," he said.

He said foreign doctors were admitted according to their credentials, including their knowledge of Indonesian and passing a test on their medical expertise to upgrade the professional skills of Indonesian doctors.

He cited as an example the cardiovascular unit of Harapan Kita Hospital which hired an American doctor for six months who later returned to the United States.

Sujudi acknowledged that Indonesian doctors needed to improve their competitive edge.

"Increased professional medical skills are crucial to instilling people's trust in Indonesian doctors," he said, adding that he hoped foreigners would not be the sole benefactors of the large Indonesian market. (01)