House, government face final hurdle over medical council
House, government face final hurdle over medical council
Dewi Santoso, Jakarta
Legislators and the government managed to resolve on Monday all
but one item in their lengthy debate on the responsibilities of a
proposed medical council.
When the deliberation was adjourned until Wednesday, House of
Representatives Commission VII on health affairs and Minister of
Health Achmad Sujudi remained at odds on the lawmakers' proposal
to provide the council with the power to determine the status of
new medical sciences.
Article 8 of the House-sponsored bill on medical practice says
the medical council is authorized to determine whether or not a
new medical science should be taught and developed in the
country.
Sujudi objected, saying the authority was the privilege of
college authorities and the boards of medical schools.
"Since doctors are the ones who know more about the
development of a new science, the authority to determine whether
a new medical science is valid should rest with them, instead of
the council," said Sujudi.
House Commission VII deputy chairman Ahmad Sanoesi Tambunan
countered Sujudi's argument, saying that, as both the lawmakers
and the government had previously agreed that the council would
be responsible for determining medical profession standards, it
was natural for the council also to determine the status of a new
medical science.
"We want the council to be given the authority (to determine
the validity of a new science) because college authorities can be
too word missing to decide, which in turn is disadvantageous to
doctors," said Sanoesi.
Such a problem could occur if a doctor studied a specific
branch of medical science abroad and obtained a degree in it, but
could not practice it in the country, he added.
"If such a medical science did not exist here according to
college authorities, it would be helpful to the profession if it
were recognized and approved by the council. So, would we simply
reject the science?" asked Sanoesi.
Apart from the disagreement on the new medical science issue,
the government and the House agreed that the medical council
would stay independent.
They endorsed the council's duties to register fresh medical
school graduates, cooperate with college authorities in
determining medical profession standards and provide assistance
with regard to medical practice.
They also agreed that the council would have the authority to
revoke doctors' licenses and certificates, to determine
professional standards and to test applicants for licenses.
Both parties further agreed to transfer the authority to
select the technology used for clinical treatment to a related
body, instead of the medical council as proposed by the House.
It will take the two camps more weeks to finish the
deliberation as more issues, including the Disciplinary Committee
and the Court of Discipline, remain untouched. The House was
initially scheduled to endorse the bill by May 31, 2004.