Thousands of Aspiring Doctors at Risk of Dropout, PDUI Urges Government for Fairer and More Consistent System
REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA - The Central Board of the Indonesian General Practitioners’ Association (PP PDUI) received an audience from the Indonesian Young Doctors’ Movement (PDMI), comprising medical students from across Indonesia who have completed their professional medical studies (as interns/clerkships) at their respective Medical Faculties but have not yet passed the Competency Examination (retakers).
PP PDUI General Chairman, Dr Ardiansyah Bahar, MKM, along with several board members, met with PDMI representatives (retakers) coordinated by Mikawirdani. They pleaded for the best possible solution to the retaker issue, where some of them are at risk of being dropped from their studies/dropout.
PDUI conveyed its concern regarding the condition of thousands of aspiring doctors (retakers) who are currently facing the risk of academic dropout (drop out/DO). These retakers face restrictions on access to the National Competency Examination due to having exceeded the study period limit.
Based on various reports and aspirations received, it is estimated that there are more than 1,000 aspiring doctors in Indonesia who have completed their medical professional education but have not passed the competency exam. Currently, they are in an uncertain academic and professional position.
Medical Education Governance
PDUI views this problem not merely as an individual failure. PDUI considers it a systemic issue in the governance of medical education and the profession.
The retakers have completed the entire medical professional education process and met the set academic standards, yet they face administrative barriers and inconsistent policies, including inability to take the competency exam. This situation creates uncertainty in status, where they are no longer active students but also not yet recognised as doctors.
PDUI assesses that the dropout policy towards this group has the potential to eliminate thousands of trained healthcare human resources. Additionally, it could worsen the disparity in doctor needs across various regions and cause psychosocial impacts and injustice for these aspiring doctors.
PDUI rejects the DO policy for retakers. PDUI urges that aspiring doctors who have completed professional education should not be removed from the education system but instead be given opportunities to complete the competency process. Retakers should be granted fair and measurable access to the competency exam.
PDUI also pushes for uniform national policies. Clear and consistent national policies are needed in handling retakers to avoid differing treatments between educational institutions. PDUI believes that every aspiring doctor who has undergone a long education process is a national asset that must be managed wisely, not eliminated by the system.