The Ministry of Health (Kemenkes) is currently accelerating the drafting of a Presidential Regulation (Perpres) regarding security and safety protections for medical and health workers. This step was taken as a crucial response to the rampant cases of bullying and intimidation, including the tragic incident that befell Dr. Icha in East Nusa Tenggara (NTT).
Director General of Health Human Resources at the Ministry of Health, Yuli Farianti, explained that this regulation is designed to strengthen the existing legal framework. Its main focus is to ensure the security of medical personnel across sectors, not limited only to the Ministry of Health's authority, to ensure comprehensive protection while health workers perform their professional duties.
“The drafting of this Perpres covers three main pillars: health and employment insurance, occupational safety, and legal protection. We are also preparing derivative regulations that specifically mandate strict sanctions for perpetrators of violence or intimidation against medical personnel,” said Yuli in an online press conference, Friday (3/7/2026).
The government also reinforces the authority of health workers to suspend services if they face actions that violate ethical norms, bullying, or physical violence. The management of healthcare facilities (fasyankes) is required to provide strict standard operating procedures (SOPs), including strengthening physical security systems in high-risk areas such as Emergency Rooms (ER).
Meanwhile, the results of the Ministry of Health's investigation stated that the medical actions performed by Dr. Icha on a snakebite patient complied with applicable medical procedures. The patient's family's request for antivenom serum was not met because it did not meet medical indications, which subsequently triggered conflict and intimidation in the field.
Professor at the Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Indonesia, Prof. Ari Fahrial Syam, highlighted this incident as a wake-up call for the national healthcare system. He emphasized that protecting doctors in remote areas is vital so that the dedication and motivation of medical personnel do not wane. He also urged that the legal process regarding Dr. Icha's case be monitored to completion to provide a sense of justice and a deterrent effect for the instigators.
