Health Minister Affirms Dr Piprim Basarah Was Dismissed for Disciplinary Violations
Jakarta, VIVA – Indonesia’s Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin has spoken publicly about the recent dismissal of Dr Piprim Basarah Yunarso, affirming that the doctor was sacked for disciplinary violations.
He denied that the dismissal was caused by differences of opinion.
“It’s impossible that the dismissal was because of differing views. It was due to disciplinary violations, that’s all,” Health Minister Budi told reporters at the Parliamentary Complex in Senayan, Jakarta, on Wednesday, 18 February 2026.
He confirmed that Dr Piprim had never turned up for work, and therefore the dismissal was not the result of disagreements.
“Yes [he never attended work]. It couldn’t possibly be just because of differing opinions,” he concluded.
The Director of Fatmawati Central General Hospital (RSUP Fatmawati), Wahyu Widodo, revealed that Dr Piprim Basarah’s dismissal had nothing to do with criticising Health Ministry policies. He was dismissed for being absent without leave for 28 consecutive days.
“This violates Government Regulation No. 94 of 2021 on Civil Servant Discipline, which states: ‘Honourable dismissal not at one’s own request as a civil servant for those who are absent from work without valid reason cumulatively for 28 working days or more within one year,’” said Wahyu Widodo in an official statement on Monday, 16 February 2026.
Wahyu also shared the chronology of Dr Piprim’s dismissal. The full timeline is as follows:
A letter from the Director of RSUP Fatmawati dated 14 October 2025 stated that the individual had not reported to work and had not recorded attendance continuously from April 2025 up to that date (29 October 2025).
Two summonses were issued to the individual — Summons I dated 25 August 2025 and Summons II dated 3 September 2025 — but the individual failed to attend either.
On 15 September 2025, the Director of RSUP Fatmawati imposed a disciplinary sanction in the form of a written reprimand for violating Government Regulation No. 94 of 2021 on Civil Servant Discipline, namely for failing to carry out official duties with full dedication, honesty, awareness and responsibility, and Article 4 paragraph (f) for being absent from work and failing to comply with working hour requirements.
Dr Piprim committed further disciplinary violations by continuing to be absent from work without valid reason. A further summons was issued by the Investigative Team on 16 September 2025, which he did not attend. A second summons was then issued on 25 September 2025, requiring him to appear before the investigative team on 8 October 2025, which he did attend.