Viral Incident of Healthcare Workers Mocking BPJS Patient Who Waited 8 Hours Prompts Ministry Response

The Ministry of Health (Kemenkes) has expressed regret over the circulation of social media comments, allegedly made by medical and healthcare workers, targeting a patient of the national health insurance scheme (BPJS Kesehatan). The Ministry stressed the importance of upholding empathy and professionalism, including when expressing opinions in the digital space. Head of the Ministry’s Communication and Public Service Bureau, Aji Muhawarman, stated that comments lacking empathy towards patients or their families are not in line with the values of healthcare service. ‘The Ministry of Health regrets the circulation of comments from some healthcare workers on social media that appear to lack empathy towards patients and their families who are undergoing healthcare services,’ Aji said, as quoted by detikHealth on Wednesday. He urged all medical and healthcare personnel to prioritise empathy and good communication in responding to events in society. ‘We urge everyone to be wiser in using social media. This is also part of the professionalism of medical and healthcare workers,’ he said. The Ministry’s statement came after a post by a BPJS patient named Yurizal Tri Chaerawan went viral. In a Threads post on 22 July 2026, Yurizal claimed he had been waiting for an inpatient room for eight hours, without revealing the hospital’s identity. The post triggered a slew of inappropriate comments, with some accounts, reportedly belonging to healthcare workers and doctors, responding with insults, including suggesting the patient move to the mortuary to get a room faster. The discussion intensified after Yurizal was reported to have passed away on 31 July 2026, news shared by a family member, bringing his previous post back into the spotlight. There has been no official statement confirming whether his death was related to the long wait for a room, nor has the hospital or exact cause of death been officially disclosed. Several doctors who had commented on the post later issued public apologies via social media, expressing regret and offering condolences to the family.