Government urged to set up medical council

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Participants at a medical seminar urged the government immediately to establish a medical council to monitor the care given to patients nationwide.

The House of Representatives endorsed in October of last year Law No. 29/2004 on medical services, which called for the established of the Indonesian Medical Council. The council should have been up and running six months after the law was endorsed, or this April.

The Ministry of Health is in charge of selecting the members of the council. Ministry officials attending the seminar on Tuesday were unsure of the delays in setting up the council.

As described in the law, the council will protect the interests of patients and help to improve the quality of medical care in the country.

When established, the council will consist of 17 people, including 10 medical doctors, three community figures, two officials from the Ministry of Health and two officials from the Ministry of National Education. The council will be supervised by the president's office.

The Medical Services Law also mandates the formation of a disciplinary council to hear complaints from patients and investigate doctors. The disciplinary council, which will consist of 11 people, including eight medical doctors and three legal experts, will be established together with the medical council.

"The (disciplinary) council will provide a new option for patients and their families who are not satisfied with the medical services provided," said Agus Purwadianto of the Indonesian Hospital Association, a panelist at the seminar. (004)