Jakarta (ANTARA) - Indonesia’s Health Ministry has resolved 124 of 433 reported bullying cases in hospitals under its authority, imposing sanctions on 98 individuals, Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin said on Friday.
Speaking at a national seminar on bullying and sexual violence in the medical field, Sadikin said the complaints came from 24 specialist medical education programs.
As of August 15, disciplinary actions included 10 written warnings and one dismissal of hospital directors, along with sanctions against heads of medical staff, educators, and dozens of medical residents.
“We’ve taken formal action to create a deterrent effect. Without clear consequences, this won’t be resolved,” Sadikin said.
For hospitals under the Ministry of Health, sanctions were imposed on 11 directors through 10 written warnings and one dismissal as acting president director.
He added that sanctions were also imposed on eight Heads of Medical Staff Groups (KSM), one Head of the Study Program (KPS), two educators, and staff.
Within the Faculty of Medicine, sanctions were handed down to 12 KPS, one KSM, and one lecturer.
In addition, 60 participants of the Specialist Doctor Education Program (PPDS) across various study programs also received sanctions.
Sadikin explained that bullying complaints from hospitals outside his ministry's authority, including those owned by universities or private institutions, will be forwarded to the relevant parties, including the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, and Technology, if proven.
"The Health Ministry continues to maintain professional ethics. In severe instances, including sexual harassment, we can revoke the Practice License (SIP) and Registration Certificate (STR)," the minister warned.
Until August 15, 2025, his party received 2,920 complaints through the Ministry of Health's reporting channel, with 733 confirmed complaints and evidence of bullying in hospitals both under and outside the ministry's jurisdiction.
Categories of bullying include physical bullying, verbal bullying, cyberbullying, and other non-physical and non-verbal forms of bullying.
"Students have to pay billions of rupiah outside of official fees, and this represents perhaps 60 to 70 percent of the 733 confirmed cases. This is clear evidence of the flow of funds," Sadikin disclosed.
He informed that the large sum of money was used to purchase goods, hotel reservations, tickets, and cars unrelated to specialist medical education.
