Six Internship Doctors Die Between February and July 2026, PIDI-PIDGI Urges Major Evaluation and Healthcare Worker Protection
The death of internship doctor Siti Zahra Maghfira has drawn significant attention from the medical community, adding to a growing list of fatalities among junior doctors in recent months. A total of six internship doctors have died between February and July 2026.
According to a statement from the Indonesian Doctors Internship Programme and Dental Internship Programme Association (PIDI-PIDGI) on its Instagram account, the six doctors who passed away are:
Dr Kartika Ayu Permatasari on 25 February 2026, who was undergoing her internship at Bina Bhakti Husada Hospital in Rembang, Central Java.
Dr Edgar Bezaliel Hartanto on 17 March 2026, who was interning at Bhayangkara Hospital in Denpasar.
Dr Andito Muhammad Wibisono on 26 March 2026, who was interning at Pagelaran Regional General Hospital in Cianjur.
Dr Myta Aprilia Azmy on 1 May 2026, who was interning at KH Daud Arif Regional General Hospital in Kuala Tungkal.
Dr Muhammad Zulfikar Drakel, M.Res on 26 March 2026, who was interning at Sukadana Regional General Hospital in East Lampung.
Dr Siti Zahra Maghfira on 26 July 2026, who was interning at Sentra Medika Hospital in Depok.
Following these deaths, the PIDI-PIDGI association stated that the series of events can no longer be viewed as isolated incidents. The association emphasised that this is not the first time they have expressed condolences for colleagues who have passed away, noting that the losses have occurred in quick succession under circumstances that should not have happened.
As a result, PIDI-PIDGI is advocating for comprehensive changes to improve protection for healthcare workers. The association expressed its full support for systemic reforms to ensure medical personnel are protected from negative impacts, both direct and indirect. Additionally, the association urged the public to refrain from speculating about the causes of death and to respect the privacy of the bereaved families.