TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The House of Representatives (DPR) officially ratified the health bill to become law on Tuesday, July 11, 2023, at a Plenary Meeting chaired by Speaker Puan Maharani and Deputy Speakers Rahmat Goble and Lodewijk Freidrich Paulus.

“We’d like to once again ask all members of the council; can the bill on health be approved and passed into law?” Puan asked lawmakers in attendance who immediately conveyed their approval. “Approved,” the majority answered.

Two factions, the Democrat Party and the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS), however, rejected the bill ratification. “Two factions. The Democrat and PKS stated their refusal,” Puan confirmed, adding that the NasDem faction agreed but with a note.

Other factions approving the bill are PDIP, Golkar, Gerindra, PKB, PAN, and PPP.

The ratification of the health bill was marked by demonstrations staged outside the DPR building. A number of health professional organizations such as the Indonesian Medical Association (IDI) and the Indonesian Nurses Association (PPNI) expressed their rejection of the bill.

President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo responded positively to the passage of the health bill today and hoped the issue of the shortage of doctors in Indonesia could be solved. He explained that the health bill was aimed at improving the health services.

“Yes, that’s good. We hope that after being evaluated and corrected in the DPR, the bill can improve information in health services. And we hope that the shortage of doctors, the shortage of specialists, can be overcome quickly. I think it's the goal,” Jokowi said in Majalengka, West Java, Tuesday, July 11, 2023.

TIKA AYU | ADELIA | M JULNIS FIRMANSYAH

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