Tasikmalaya Hospital Employee Under Fire for Allegedly Insulting BPJS Patient on Social Media

An administrative employee of the Dr Soekardjo Regional General Hospital (RSUD) in Tasikmalaya, identified by the initials NZ, has sparked public outrage after allegedly posting a derogatory comment about a patient using BPJS Kesehatan on social media. The comment was made in response to a patient’s viral post complaining about an eight-hour wait for a hospital room. The hospital’s management has since confirmed that the employee is an administrative staff member, not a medical professional, and that the incident prompting the patient’s complaint actually occurred at a different healthcare facility. Hospital Director Budi Tirmadi stated that an internal investigation was launched immediately after the post went viral. “The viral post was not made by a doctor or nurse, but by an administrative employee. This action has clearly had a negative impact on the institution’s reputation,” he said on Wednesday. As the employee holds the status of a Government Employee with a Work Agreement (PPPK), the hospital is coordinating with the City Personnel and Human Resources Development Agency (BKPSDM) and the Inspectorate to determine the appropriate disciplinary measures. Budi Tirmadi stressed that while uniforms can be taken off after working hours, ethics must remain. He called on all public service employees to exercise wisdom when engaging on digital platforms, noting that personal social media activity can significantly affect public trust in the institution.