Shutdown Looms over Dental Practitioners

VIVAnews – Dental practitioners are facing shutdown of their businesses following the issuance of the Ministry of Health’s regulation (Permenkes) No.1871/2011 which had replaced the Permenkes No.339/1989.  

According to the data of the Indonesian Dental Practitioner Association (PTGI), at least 75 thousand people are employed in this business nationwide. 

Those dental practitioners joined in the association will hold a National Leadership Meeting (Rapimnas) for two days in the Islamic Center, Bekasi, starting from today. As many as 500 representatives of the association from all over Indonesia will take part in the talks. 

“As for me, I want things like we had before. It’s a pity if the license is revoked,” said Arif Subari, 43, Chairman of North Sumatera’s PTGI. 

Arif who has been working as a dental practitioner since 1990, and now has his own business on Jalan Patuha Nagari, Balige, Toba Samosir, said he hoped that the government will reconsider the implementation of the new regulation.

“There are 75 thousand of us throughout Indonesia, that’s not including the children and relatives who help the business,” he said. 

The income of dental practitioners can reach Rp200 thousand per day. 

“I have three children, and now can pay for my children’s college tuition from this business. If the business is gone, what will happen to us,” said Arif. 

Until now, Arif said that the association has never been involved in the discussion of the regulation. 

“We found out about the new Ministry of Health’s regulation when it’s being socialized,” he said. 

Arif, who is only a high school graduate, acknowledged that dental practitioners throughout Indonesia are worried because most of them do not have other skills.  Dental practitioners are family business, whose knowledge is gained when being directly involved in helping parents or relatives in the business.

“I do not know the reason behind the Ministry’s decision to issue the regulation. But from the information I received, it was due to the growing number illegal dental practitioners taking over the works of dentists. But not all of us fit the picture,” said Arif. 

Arif himself affirmed that he and other dental practitioners under the association do not dare to perform jobs which are not attached in their job description.  

“Dental practitioners are only authorized to make and install dentures according to their license.  Beyond that, we always recommend that patients come to the dentist,” he said. 

Arif and other representatives of the association can only expect that the government has other more sensible solutions as closing the business is not a wise policy and will only add to government’s burden.  

“Clearly, it will add to the number of unemployment. In North Sumatra, only 1,200 dental practitioners are registered in the association,” he said. 

An expert staff of Indonesian Dental Practitioner Association (PTGI), Aan Setiadji, said the government should have the proper solutions such as developing and monitoring the dental practitioners.  

“It’s a pity to close their businesses.  If their job is considered harmful to others due to lack of formal education, they should be guided and supervised,” he said. 

Actually the Ministry of Health’s regulation No.1871/2011 had been effective since March. However, due to many rejections, the dental practitioners were finally invited on April 9 for a dialogue with the representatives of the Ministry of Health’s Medical Services.  

“From the meeting, they (the Ministry of Health) are willing to form a small team. The team’s task is to find solution of where to direct the dental practitioners to,” said Aan. 

Until both parties gets a solution to the problem, the new regulation will only be adopted within the next 6 months.