Foreign doctors 'only consultants'

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)