Health Minister's Warning and Efforts to Eradicate the "Killing" Work Culture for Young Doctors

The death of an intern doctor from the Faculty of Medicine at Sriwijaya University (Unsri), dr. Myta Aprilia Azmy, has left a sense of sorrow and raised major questions about the working conditions of young doctors in the field. Starting her internship in August 2025, Myta is suspected to have been given an excessive workload and inhumane treatment during her duties, leading to illness and her passing on Friday (1/5/2026). She was serving as an intern doctor at the KH Daud Arif Regional General Hospital (RSUD), Kuala Tungkal, West Tanjung Jabung Regency, Jambi. On 27 April 2026, Myta was rushed to Dr Mohammad Hoesin Hospital (RSUP) in Palembang and treated in the infection isolation ward before being moved to the ICU due to worsening respiratory condition. After several days of intensive care, Myta was declared deceased on 1 May 2026 due to severe lung condition. Following a thorough investigation, the Ministry of Health (Kemenkes) revealed the cause of Myta’s death, which began with fever, cough, and cold symptoms, stemming from suspected overwork. Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin emphasised that the working hours for intern doctors or those on internship are 40 hours per week or eight hours per day. “That is 40 hours per week and must be 8 hours per day for 5 working days, or if 6 working days, then 40 divided by 6 days is about 6 to almost 7 hours. The important thing is that it must not exceed 40 hours,” said Budi at the Ministry of Health office in Jakarta on Thursday (7/5/2026). The Health Minister acknowledged that intern doctors are still found replacing the positions of permanent doctors, which is prohibited. “What is happening now is that when an intern doctor joins, the existing doctors there might not need to attend, and the intern doctor does the work. That is not allowed. Because the principle for intern doctors is that they must be supervised, not used as replacements for permanent doctors,” Budi stressed. “Whether it is co-assistants, interns, or specialist training residents (PPDS), there should be no more bullying, extortion, or coercion. That must stop,” Budi firmly stated. The Director General of Health Human Resources at Kemenkes, Yuli Farianti, revealed that the intern doctors or those on internship in Kuala Tungkal never had days off, including Myta.