Medical body urges officials checkups

Eva C. Komandjaja, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The Indonesian Medical Association (IDI) urged the government on Wednesday to require all officials to undergo a regular and thorough general physical examination for the sake of their state duties.

IDI chairman Farid Anfasa Moeloek said a full medical examination had been reduced to a routine and often conducted in a sloppy manner, providing the government with inaccurate reports on officials' health.

Because it is very easy for government officials to obtain health certificates from doctors or hospitals, many times they later suffer illnesses that prevent them from performing their duties.

"We were surprised to hear of a minister who suffered a stroke, and that he cannot work until today because of his poor health. Therefore, it is important for state officials to go through a thorough, periodic medical examination," said Farid.

He was referring to Minister of Defense Matori Abdul Djalil who has been inactive for more than six months after a stroke. He is recuperating at home after treatment in Singapore.

Farid, who is a former health minister, said IDI had set out guidelines for medical examinations for government officials, but they had never been complied with.

"We are disappointed because the government has never used it as a standard medical examination for officials," said Farid.

The standard examination includes a comprehensive physical and mental checkup.

Farid said the same standard procedure should apply to people who will sit in top positions in the government.

Following the examination, doctors will either declare the officials in good health, in reasonable health for specific jobs, or in reasonable health for specific jobs but must receive medical treatment, and unhealthy.

The results should be taken into account by decision makers in the government before promoting an official, although Farid said state of health was not a determining factor.

Farid also doubted that legislative candidates had undergone a thorough checkup.

He said he heard reports from many doctors who said they were pressured by influential politicians to declare them healthy.

A health certificate from at least a regional hospital is one of the documents required by the General Elections Committee (KPU) for candidates wishing to contest the legislative election, scheduled for April 5.