Paediatric Cardiologist Piprim Basarah Dismissed by Health Minister
Paediatric cardiology consultant Piprim Basarah Yanuarso has stated that he was dismissed by Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin after refusing a transfer from Cipto Mangunkusumo Hospital (RSCM) to Fatmawati Hospital. According to Piprim, the transfer was carried out in violation of the meritocracy principles governing the civil service.
In a public statement, Piprim conveyed his apologies for no longer being able to supervise the education of students, residents and paediatric cardiology consultant fellows, particularly at RSCM. "I sincerely apologise as I can no longer accompany you in your studies," he said, as quoted from a video shared through a health media group on Monday, 16 February 2026.
Two months before being forcibly transferred by the Director General of Advanced Health Services at the Ministry of Health, Piprim was summoned by a senior professor. He was informed that he would be transferred if he did not cooperate with the collegium established by the Health Minister.
He stressed that at the time he was merely carrying out the mandate of the National Congress of Paediatric Medicine in Semarang, which had resolved that the Indonesian paediatric health collegium must remain independent. Piprim, together with colleagues at the Indonesian Paediatric Society (IDAI), fought to ensure the collegium would not fall under the Ministry of Health. He noted that their struggle was subsequently reinforced by a Constitutional Court ruling which stated that the collegium must be independent.
"The fight for collegium independence ultimately resulted in a forced transfer," he said.
Piprim stated that he refused the transfer as he considered the policy inconsistent with meritocracy principles in civil service management. His refusal, he said, ultimately led to his dismissal by the Health Minister.
Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin provided his reasons for Piprim Basarah's dismissal. Budi said it was because Piprim had been absent for 28 days from his duties since being transferred from RSCM to Fatmawati Hospital. "It is not possible for a civil servant to be dismissed without clear justification," Budi said when asked for confirmation on Monday, 16 February 2026.
Fatmawati Hospital Director Wahyu Widodo stated that the dismissal of Dr Piprim had no connection to his criticism of Ministry of Health policies. "He was dismissed for being absent for 28 consecutive days. This constitutes a violation of Government Regulation No. 94 of 2021," Wahyu said.
Wahyu also explained that Piprim had never reported for duty. Summons letters had been issued, but Piprim did not comply with them either. He was deemed to have committed a serious disciplinary violation by failing to report to work without valid reason. "We continued our approach, we also communicated via WhatsApp, reminding the individual that he had been transferred to Fatmawati. However, he still did not attend," Wahyu said.
In a public statement, Piprim conveyed his apologies for no longer being able to supervise the education of students, residents and paediatric cardiology consultant fellows, particularly at RSCM. "I sincerely apologise as I can no longer accompany you in your studies," he said, as quoted from a video shared through a health media group on Monday, 16 February 2026.
Two months before being forcibly transferred by the Director General of Advanced Health Services at the Ministry of Health, Piprim was summoned by a senior professor. He was informed that he would be transferred if he did not cooperate with the collegium established by the Health Minister.
He stressed that at the time he was merely carrying out the mandate of the National Congress of Paediatric Medicine in Semarang, which had resolved that the Indonesian paediatric health collegium must remain independent. Piprim, together with colleagues at the Indonesian Paediatric Society (IDAI), fought to ensure the collegium would not fall under the Ministry of Health. He noted that their struggle was subsequently reinforced by a Constitutional Court ruling which stated that the collegium must be independent.
"The fight for collegium independence ultimately resulted in a forced transfer," he said.
Piprim stated that he refused the transfer as he considered the policy inconsistent with meritocracy principles in civil service management. His refusal, he said, ultimately led to his dismissal by the Health Minister.
Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin provided his reasons for Piprim Basarah's dismissal. Budi said it was because Piprim had been absent for 28 days from his duties since being transferred from RSCM to Fatmawati Hospital. "It is not possible for a civil servant to be dismissed without clear justification," Budi said when asked for confirmation on Monday, 16 February 2026.
Fatmawati Hospital Director Wahyu Widodo stated that the dismissal of Dr Piprim had no connection to his criticism of Ministry of Health policies. "He was dismissed for being absent for 28 consecutive days. This constitutes a violation of Government Regulation No. 94 of 2021," Wahyu said.
Wahyu also explained that Piprim had never reported for duty. Summons letters had been issued, but Piprim did not comply with them either. He was deemed to have committed a serious disciplinary violation by failing to report to work without valid reason. "We continued our approach, we also communicated via WhatsApp, reminding the individual that he had been transferred to Fatmawati. However, he still did not attend," Wahyu said.