Indonesia faces doctor shortage; 12 of 17 puskesmas in Mamberamo lack doctors
General practitioners, PPDS participants and internship doctors often fill gaps, stretching service hours into the night.
Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin said Indonesia still lacks doctors, especially in remote areas, leaving health workers with very heavy workloads. At a working meeting with Commission IX of the House of Representatives on Thursday (25/6), Budi cited conditions in Mamberamo Raya regency, Papua, which he said has no specialist doctors at all. He also said 12 of 17 puskesmas in the area do not have a doctor. According to Budi, the shortage forces general practitioners, Program Pendidikan Dokter Spesialis (PPDS) participants and internship doctors to frequently fill service gaps. The indicator used by the Health Ministry is the number of doctors still holding Surat Izin Praktik in three places; Budi said that shows the number of available doctors is only around one-third of the need.