TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Executive Board of the Indonesian Doctors Association (PB IDI) deputy chairman Slamet Budiarto said on Monday that the Health Ministry should be focusing on coronavirus (COVID-19) treatments rather than social security aspects such as the large-scale social restriction (PSBB).

“The Ministry of Health is responsible for health issues. Why are they given such a major responsibility to establish the status of large-scale social restriction,” said Slamet to Tempo yesterday.

He argues that the PSBB involves many other aspects other than health and should be handled by the Coordinating Ministry. He maintains that the Health Ministry’s top priority should be related to healthcare as the country is still facing issues regarding swab tests, the lack of sufficient crucial medical equipment such as ventilators or personal protective gear (APD).

“There are a plethora of factors in establishing the PSBB. This is just too amusing. A Health Minister handling the social restriction protocol,” said Slamet.

The requirement for a region to obtain the large-scale social restriction status is overseen by the Health Ministry’s Regulation No.9/2020 that was just freshly introduced.

A region fulfills the requirement to adopt this stricter coronavirus (COVID-19) prevention status based on aspects, one of which is people’s welfare and security aspects.

EGI ADYATAMA