115 doctors die during COVID-19 pandemic in Indonesia

The Mitigation Team of the Indonesian Medical Association (IDI) has recorded that as many as 115 doctors had died during the COVID-19 pandemic across the archipelagic country with the biggest number in East Java province, reported Xinhua.

Of the total number, 60 were general practitioners, 53 were specialists and two resident doctors who were still attending an education for specialists, according to data from the IDI's Mitigation Team as quoted by Antara news agency here on Wednesday.

The biggest number of the doctors who died was found in East Java province with 29 doctors followed by North Sumatra province with 21 doctors, Indonesia's capital of Jakarta 15 doctors, and the rest were found in other provinces in the country.

The IDI recorded that the ratio of doctors in Indonesia was the lowest in Southeast Asia, namely 0.4 doctors per 1,000 people, meaning the country only has four doctors to serve 10,000 people. Meanwhile for specialist doctors, the ratio was 0.13 per 1,000 people.

Chairman of the IDI's Mitigation Team Adib Khumaidi explained that with the deaths of 115 doctors, it was assumed that one doctor served 2,500 patients.

The government was expected to make concrete measures in an effort to protect and save doctors and other health workers, Khumaidi said, adding that the government could set up a national committee for the protection and safety of medical workers and health workers.