Timeline and Explanation of Doctor Piprim's Dismissal by Health Minister Budi
Paediatric cardiology consultant Dr 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 accompany the education of students, residents and paediatric cardiology consultant fellows, particularly at RSCM. "I sincerely apologise because I can no longer accompany you in pursuing your education," he said, as quoted from a video shared through a health media group on Monday, 16 February 2026.
Piprim recounted that two months before being forcibly transferred by the Director General of Advanced Health Services at the Ministry of Health, he was summoned by a senior professor. The professor conveyed that he would be transferred if he was not cooperative towards 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 Health Sciences in Semarang, which resolved that the Indonesian paediatric health collegium must remain independent. According to Piprim, he and his colleagues at the Indonesian Paediatricians Association (IDAI) fought to ensure the collegium would not fall under the Ministry of Health. He noted that this struggle was subsequently reinforced by a Constitutional Court ruling which stated that the collegium must be independent.
"The struggle for collegium independence ultimately resulted in a forced transfer," he said.
Piprim stated that he refused the transfer because he considered the policy inconsistent with meritocracy principles in civil service management. That refusal, he said, ultimately led to the dismissal decision 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 just like that without clear reasons," Budi said when contacted for confirmation on Monday, 16 February 2026.
Fatmawati Hospital Director Wahyu Widodo stated that Dr Piprim's dismissal had nothing to do with criticising Ministry of Health policies. "He was dismissed for being absent for 28 consecutive days. This violates 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. Piprim was deemed to have committed a serious disciplinary violation by never attending work without valid reason. "We continued our approach, we also communicated via WhatsApp, reminding the individual that he had been transferred to Fatmawati. However, the individual still did not attend," Wahyu said.
In a public statement, Piprim conveyed his apologies for no longer being able to accompany the education of students, residents and paediatric cardiology consultant fellows, particularly at RSCM. "I sincerely apologise because I can no longer accompany you in pursuing your education," he said, as quoted from a video shared through a health media group on Monday, 16 February 2026.
Piprim recounted that two months before being forcibly transferred by the Director General of Advanced Health Services at the Ministry of Health, he was summoned by a senior professor. The professor conveyed that he would be transferred if he was not cooperative towards 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 Health Sciences in Semarang, which resolved that the Indonesian paediatric health collegium must remain independent. According to Piprim, he and his colleagues at the Indonesian Paediatricians Association (IDAI) fought to ensure the collegium would not fall under the Ministry of Health. He noted that this struggle was subsequently reinforced by a Constitutional Court ruling which stated that the collegium must be independent.
"The struggle for collegium independence ultimately resulted in a forced transfer," he said.
Piprim stated that he refused the transfer because he considered the policy inconsistent with meritocracy principles in civil service management. That refusal, he said, ultimately led to the dismissal decision 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 just like that without clear reasons," Budi said when contacted for confirmation on Monday, 16 February 2026.
Fatmawati Hospital Director Wahyu Widodo stated that Dr Piprim's dismissal had nothing to do with criticising Ministry of Health policies. "He was dismissed for being absent for 28 consecutive days. This violates 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. Piprim was deemed to have committed a serious disciplinary violation by never attending work without valid reason. "We continued our approach, we also communicated via WhatsApp, reminding the individual that he had been transferred to Fatmawati. However, the individual still did not attend," Wahyu said.