"I have issued a circular to the hospitals. We support them and are also concerned about their case, but they must not neglect their patients. Services in hospitals must continue," she said at a press conference at the health ministry here on Wednesday.
Hospital directors have been requested to monitor services in their respective hospitals to ensure they continue.
"All operations must continue on schedule," the minister said.
Doctors in many parts of the country are demonstrating against a recent Supreme Court ruling convicting Dr Dewa Ayu, Dr Hendry Siagian and Dr Hendry Simanjuntak of malpractice.
Dismissing the rulings of two lower courts that had acquitted the three accused of all charges, the Supreme Court found them guilty and sent them to jail.
Minister Nafsiah could not be sure of whether the demonstrations would continue in the days to come.
"I have to be frank: No one can be certain. Tempers are flaring. In this case, we believe the doctors tried to save the patient's life, and the lower courts even acquitted them of committing any crime. Later, they were declared guilty," she said.
The protestors are allowed to express solidarity, but they must never ignore service, she remarked.
The director general of health service development, Akmal Taher, made assurances that services in state hospitals would not be disrupted if the demonstrations later spread further.
"In state hospitals, we can at least remind the protestors that they are not just doctors but also public servants," he said.
Therefore, demonstrations at the state's Dr Soetomo Hospital in Surabaya on Wednesday lasted for only two hours from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m., he pointed out.
In Cipto Mangunkusumo Central Hospital in Jakarta, 560 doctors are available in addition to 1.8 thousand trainee doctors. He stressed that the state hospitals would not be short of medical personnel.
"I believe hospital directors still have a heart," he added.
Doctors are currently seeking a judicial review of the case and are demanding a suspension of the three doctors detention order.
Julia Fransiska Makatey (25) died at a hospital in Manado, North Sulawesi, at around 10 p.m. on April 10, 2010, following an emergency Caesarean section by the three doctors. The doctors decided to operate on her when she was unable to deliver her baby normally, despite having been treated since around 6 p.m.
A043 (H-YH/INE)
Edited by INE
(KR-BSR/F001)
Editor: Jafar M Sidik
Copyright © ANTARA 2013
