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.