Lawmaker Expresses Regret Over Dismissal of Terawan Putranto from IDI

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Member of the Commission IX of the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR) Saleh Partaonan Daulay has expressed regret over dismissal of Prof. Dr dr. Terawan Agus Putranto, SpRad(K) from the Indonesian Medical Association (IDI).

"I am shocked with the decision. A congress should have become a forum for consolidation and friendship in knitting unity. How come it's instead used as a forum for dismissal. Moreover it's permanent (dismissal). It's strange, isn't it?" Daulay said in a press release on Sunday.

Indonesia's Honorary Council for Medical Ethics (MKEK) in a special session held at the 31st Congress of IDI organized in Banda Aceh City, Aceh, Friday (25/3), decided to permanently expel Terawan Putranto, former health minister, from the IDI membership.

Terawan is one of Indonesia's best doctors, as a doctor and a military personnel, has made a lot of achievements, according to Daulay, chairman of the Faction of PAN (National Mandate Party).

The lawmaker urged the Health Ministry to take an action and facilitate a meeting between IDI and dr Terawan.

"Several activities of Dr. Terawan have been questioned, for example, concerning DSA (Digital Substraction Angiography) and Nusantara vaccine. My family and I are dr. Terawan's patients who tried both of them. After being DSA, there was no problem. In fact, we feel relief and comfortable. Likewise with the Nusantara vaccine Nusantara. After being vaccinated, Alhamdulillah (Praise to God), there are no problems. So far, we are fine," he said.

Based on his experiences, he said that Terawan has worked professionally. The legislator also added that the dismissal of Terawan might set a bad precedent.

Read: Medical Ethics Board Expels Terawan Putranto from IDI

ANTARA