Tri Indah Oktavianti, Jakarta – A coalition of medical associations is planning to file a judicial review and issue a subpoena to Health Minister Terawan Agus Putranto over a recently issued ministerial regulation on clinical radiology, which the group has deemed "an abuse of power".
The regulation, issued earlier this month, requires health facilities providing services involving radiation instruments – from community health centers to clinics and hospitals – to employ radiologists.
"The regulation is an abuse of power, considering that Minister Terawan is a radiologist himself, and many doctors and dentists say he is prioritizing fellow radiologists over others," coalition lawyer Muhammad Luthfie Hakim said in a written statement on Tuesday.
Muhammad said he and a team of nine other lawyers had studied the regulation and found it "full of discrepancies" and that it contradicted existing laws. He also said the team would soon file a subpoena for the minister.
"If the minister does not answer the subpoena, then we will proceed with the judicial review request to the Supreme Court demanding the ministerial regulation be revoked," he added.
Terawan, who is also the head the Indonesian Radiology Specialists Association (PDSRI), has come under a barrage of criticism for issuing the regulation, which many doctors say could have negative impacts on prompt treatment of patients.
In an open letter sent earlier this month, 64 of 76 specialist doctor organizations and medical specialist academy councils urged Terawan to revoke the regulation.