Most of medical students decide to be specialists, while government only provides 20% of job vacancies for the specialists of BPJS program. This circumstance constructs the doctors’ attitude that, instead of not having a job, they prefer working at primary care like governmental health care (Puskesmas) or clinics so that the primary care is often not optimal. It shows that a program to enhance the doctors’ capability in primary care to solve the issue.
The aforementioned paragraph was declared by Vice Chairperson of House of Public Health Advisor (MPKU) of Muhammadiyah dr. Erwin Santosa, Sp.A., M.Kes. in a national seminar of ‘Medical Department of PrimaryCare to Foster Excellent Primary Care. The seminar was conducted on Monday (21/12) at Convention Hall of RSU PKU Muhammadiyah. dr. Erwin informed that Klinik Pratama Muhammadiyah also needs permanent doctors because, he argued, new doctors prefer taking a specialist program that they believed it will raise prestige and bring prosperity. “If the condition remains happening, primary care like Klinik Pratama Muhammadiyah will be stagnant or will collapse,” he contended.
Besides, MDGs Goals and Basic Health Research (Rikesdas) 2013 in Indonesia is not in a good condition. “For instance, the great number of Mother Mortality Rate (AKI) is caused by lack of reproductive health care at Primary Care. It indicates that the commitment, productivity, and performance of General Practitioners at Primary Care is not adequately good,” dr. Erwin maintained.
Medical Department of Primary Care is believed to be able to resolve the issue. “WHO Report 2008 mentioned primary care more than ever,” dr. Erwin stated. He inserted that the primary care doctors (DPL) having a specialist reward will be much more appropriate than Genera Practitioners (GP) pursuing an additional program. The DPLs will focus on primary care so that effective and efficient health care will exist. In the next five years, it is predicted that medical students will prefer taking a DPL program than a specialist program.
“To conclude, the DPL program will enhance quality and facilities of primer care like Klinik Pratama Muhammadiyah distributed in various areas. The program will also improve health in Indonesia,” dr Erwin conveyed.
Furthermore, Head of Medical Collegium of Indonesia Primary Care Prof. dr. Hari Kusnanto, MPH, Dr. PH contended that primary care is necessary for the poor, and people in rural areas or border areas.
“Doctors of primary care are specialist doctors of general fields. It means that they do not focus on only one field like a heart specialist concerns with heart,” Prof. dr. Hari told. He added that the DPLs are required to have broad knowledge of more than one field, their capability should be based on SKDI, and they have to have internship experiences. “Thus, the DPLs must possess general, basic, and continuous competences,” he elucidated.
Additionally, Chief of the seminar committee dr. Iman Permana, M.Kes., Ph.D. informed that the seminar was the stepping stone to promote the DPL program. “It is expected that Medical Faculty of UMY will have a new department, namely DPL. May the seminar participants have general overview of the DPL program,” dr. Iman wished. He also hoped that the DPL program will benefit public, improve the doctors’ ability in primary care. It is also expected that chronic disease like diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and stroke can be manage earlier so that it can diminish the disease spread in Indonesia.
