COVID-19 – 115 doctors in Indonesia die during pandemic

Jakarta (Indonesia Window) – The Indonesian Medical Association (IDI) mitigation team has recorded that 115 doctors have died during the COVID-19 pandemic across Indonesia with the biggest number found in East Java province.

Of the total number, 60 were general practitioners, 53 were specialists, and two resident doctors who were still attending an education for specialists, according to data from the IDI’s mitigation team as quoted by Antara news agency here on Wednesday.

The number of doctors who died of COVID-19 in East Java province was 29, followed by North Sumatra province with 21 doctors, Indonesia’s capital of Jakarta 15 doctors, and the rest were found in other provinces in the country.

The IDI recorded that the number of doctors in Indonesia was the lowest in Southeast Asia, namely 0.4 doctors per 1,000 people, meaning the country only has four doctors to serve 10,000 people.

Meanwhile for specialist doctors, the ratio was 0.13 per 1,000 people.

Chairman of the IDI’s Mitigation Team Adib Khumaidi explained that with the deaths of 115 doctors, it was assumed that one doctor had to serve 2,500 patients.

The government was expected to make concrete measures in an effort to protect and save doctors and other health workers, Khumaidi said.

He suggested that the government set up a national committee for the protection and safety of medical workers and health workers.

Reporting by Indonesia Window