Tuesday, March 19, 2024 | 17:20 WIB

The urgency of the Indonesian Medical Council in an era of globalization

IO – We are already in a global era, a digital era, an era of sophisticated and modern 4th industrial revolution. This reality affects all aspects of our lives. In this global era, boundaries between countries will slowly disappear, resulting in easy movement of goods, services, capital, people, technology, markets, and all things between countries. Likewise, globalization occurs in various sectors that lead to free markets which cannot be avoided by all countries in the world, including Indonesia. In this era of globalization, there is a shift in technology, information, and so on. In the context of globalization, it affects change in all sectors, including in the health sector. We have entered into and implemented the ASEAN Free Trade Area (AFTA), the General Agreement of Trade on Services of the World Trade Organization (GATS-WTO). 

In the health sector, experiencing a dramatic shift from acute to chronic disease will certainly have an impact on shifting health care strategies, which in the past prioritized the curative treatment side, shifted to a preventive level then continued to a curative and rehabilitative treatment level. This condition is characterized by changes in the level of mobility and mortality of certain diseases. From infectious diseases to degenerative diseases, in the form of cardio-cerebrovascular diseases, diabetes, cancer, and other degenerative disorders. Besides, the latest developments in medical science in the form of disease detection and diagnosis have reached molecular and genetic levels after the completion of the Human Genome Project (HGP). Recent discoveries that focus on understanding pathogenesis, pathophysiology, and medicine at the molecular genetic level, stem cell, and regenerative medicine will be the trends of the future. Regenerative medicine is the pioneer of future health. These conditions have put the rapid development in the biomedical field at the cusp of a worldwide explosion of scientific advancement and will impact as a revolution in future health care. 

The strategic role of the Indonesian Medical Council 

Based on the above facts, all countries experience interdependence with each other in all aspects of life. The interdependence, for example, is in economic, social, political, and health interactions. In the health sector, the world community experiences a very strong interdependence on medical services. This means KKI (Indonesian Medical Council) will play a strategic role as a regulator of medical services. 

As explained in the Law, the Indonesian Medical Council (KKI) is an autonomous, independent, non-structural, and independent body, which is responsible to the President of the Republic of Indonesia. The KKI has the functions and duties mandated in article 7 of the Medical Practice Law number 29 of 2004 (UUPK), namely registering doctors and dentists, legalizing professional education standards for doctors and dentists, and providing guidance for the implementation of medical practice carried out with the institutions related to improving the quality of medical services, to become a global standard medical practice regulator, realizing the professionalism of doctors and dentists in Indonesia, in protecting the public. 

Furthermore, in carrying out the functions and duties as referred to in article 7 of the UUPK above, KKI has the authority according to Article 8 of the UUPK, namely, to approve and reject requests for registration of doctors and dentists. Issuance and revocation of registration certificates, to certify competency standards, conducting testing of doctor and dentist registration requirements, to approval of application of the branches of medicine and dentistry, conducting joint coaching of doctors and dentists regarding the implementation of professional ethics as stipulated by professional organizations, and maintaining records of doctors and dentists who have been sanctioned by professional organizations for violating the provisions of professional ethics. KKI has the following tasks (Article 7 of the Medical Practice Law number 29 of 2004): 1). Registering doctors and dentists; 2). Ratifying professional education standards for doctors and dentists, and 3). Guiding the implementation of medical practice which is carried out, together with related institutions following their respective functions. The KKI has a function (Article 6 of the Medical Practice Law number 29 of 2004), namely, the function of regulating, ratifying, determining, and fostering practicing doctors and dentists to improve the quality of medical services. 

By looking at the position, function, and duties of the KKI, it is the health sector regulator which is very important in ensuring performance, development, quality of health services, and medical education in protecting the wider community. Likewise, it is urgent to improve and maintain the application of the highest standards of medical and dental education as well as to maintain and enhance the professionalism of doctors and dentists in carrying out medical practice through efforts to maintain registration, foster and enforce professional discipline to protect the community. 

Benefit for the national interest 

The role of the Indonesian Medical Council in the global arena will have a positive impact on the progress of the nation for the sake of the National interest. This can be seen in our efforts to protect the wider community; guide and protect Indonesian doctors: improve the quality of medical services, including the transfer of medical technology, even increasing and prospering the nation in the perception of the national economy so that the advancement of the quality of medical services will have an impact on humans being healthier, more prosperous, enjoying a longer life, working more efficiently, and leading a more productive life. 

In the perception of national economic interests, health globalization will have a positive effect. Domestic and national companies can contribute globally and interact with foreign companies. Likewise, foreign healthcare companies can bring innovations and new approaches to capturing consumers. These dynamics usually improve the quality of products and services so that services will be more affordable. Most of the developed countries have opened international interactions and services; this will create a global market and direct investment to developing countries that bring investment and employment. 

Health and economic relations are vital. Health performance very much depends on the economy, but also on the health system itself. Health services are a priority for most people. Likewise, complex challenges result from increased migration and global interactions that cause an increased prevalence of chronic diseases and the intensive use of modern health technologies. Health investment and the design of health financing policies are closely related to improving the welfare of the people of a nation, especially when viewed from economic perceptions. Just as growth, income, investment, and employment are functions of the performance and quality of the economic system, so are regulatory frameworks, trade policies, social capital, and labor markets, etc. This is reflected in health conditions (mortality, morbidity, disability) depending not only on the standard of living but on the actual performance of the health system itself. 

Health spending must take into account the benefits of technology in terms of acquiring sophisticated equipment and educating health professionals and determining how to utilize them. This technology includes instruments for non-invasive surgery, which will result in more effective and efficient treatment, as well as the need for outbreak prevention efforts. Evidence suggests that advances in medical technology are contributing to higher life expectancy so that the community can contribute better for the good of all. 

Based on the above review, globalization of health will have a positive impact on the progress and welfare of many people, including in efforts to improve the economy as part of the national interest, so that all state institutions including KKI (Indonesian Medical Council) should participate in supporting to achieve the targets for Indonesia’s national interests in this global era. 

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