Intern Doctor at Jambi Hospital Dies, Health Ministry Sends Investigation Team
The Ministry of Health (Kemenkes) has sent an investigation team to thoroughly examine the death of Myta Aprilia Azmy, an intern doctor serving at RS KH Daud Arif in Kuala Tungkal, Jambi.
Head of the Bureau of Communication and Public Information at Kemenkes, Aji Muhawarman, stated that Kemenkes extends its deepest condolences for the incident, which is being treated as a serious matter.
“Kemenkes has dispatched an integrated investigation team comprising the Inspectorate General, Directorate General of Health Human Resources, Directorate General of Advanced Health Services, and professional experts to conduct a comprehensive probe,” Aji said when contacted on Sunday (3/5).
Aji explained that the investigation will comprehensively trace the entire sequence of events, including aspects of medical services, internship programme management, workload, participant supervision, and pre-placement health screening processes.
“The probe will also involve auditing medical records, tracing the medical check-up process, and gathering statements from family, colleagues, internship supervisors, and medical or health personnel who treated the deceased,” he said.
He added that initial information regarding the deceased’s health condition, including suspected comorbidities, will be further verified.
Therefore, Kemenkes will refrain from speculation and await the completion of the thorough investigation.
He emphasised that if any non-compliance with standards or negligence is found, Kemenkes will take firm action, including temporarily suspending the internship programme or involved health facilities until evaluation and improvement recommendations are fully implemented.
“The results of this investigation will serve as the basis for strengthening the system, including a national evaluation of health screening, participant monitoring, and mechanisms to protect intern doctors to prevent similar incidents,” Aji said.
Quoting detik Sumbagsel, several medical colleagues have highlighted suspicions of heavy workload on Myta prior to her death. Before passing away, Myta had become critical and was treated in the ICU at RSUP Dr. Mohammad Hoesin (RSMH) in Palembang.
General Chairman of the Alumni Association of the Faculty of Medicine at Sriwijaya University (IKA FK Unsri), Achmad Junaidi, stated that his organisation will monitor the case of Myta’s death during her internship programme.
“We previously sent a letter to the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Indonesia. They have requested an audit of RSUD K.H. Daud Arif in Kuala Tungkal, Jambi, the assignment site of Dr Myta,” Junaidi said, as quoted from detik Sumbagsel on Saturday (2/5).
In a letter dated 30 April 2026, IKA FK Unsri expressed concerns along with several findings regarding the working conditions of intern doctors at that regional hospital.
Junaidi claimed that Myta was allegedly subjected to a heavy workload without sufficient rest during her internship. Even when her health began to decline since March 2026, Myta was said to have continued her on-duty schedule.
“Dr Myta had reported symptoms of illness, yet she was still scheduled for night shifts while experiencing shortness of breath and high fever,” he said.
Based on his account, Myta’s condition then worsened, with oxygen saturation reported below 80 percent. Myta was eventually referred to RSMH Palembang for intensive care.
In this case, IKA FK Unsri also highlighted several other issues, from alleged minimal supervision by supervising doctors, limitations in facilities such as medicine stocks, to indications of pressure to prevent the matter from escalating.
Based on several pieces of evidence claimed to have been obtained by the IKA FK Unsri, several supervising officials were also said to have deliberately concealed the deceased’s condition to avoid extending the internship period. Alleged verbal bullying was also experienced by the late Dr Myta.
“There are instructions to conceal this condition as well as narratives that corner the intern doctor, which is a serious concern for us,” Junaidi said.
“Narratives of gaslighting that attack the mentality of intern doctors, such as calling Generation Z soft when they voice basic health rights,” concluded the points of concern regarding alleged bullying in the IKA FK Unsri letter to Kemenkes.
In response to these findings, IKA FK Unsri has urged the Ministry of Health (Kemenkes) to intervene and conduct a thorough audit of RSUD K.H. Daud Arif as an internship venue.