Bhyllabus l'énigme

When I heard the news said President elect a new Health Minister, I said in my mind, ‘obviously.’ But when I heard the new Health Minister is an engineer, I almost chocked myself, ‘eh?’ ‘really?’ and then ‘wow!’

As a medical doctor who learning health management and administration, I have long let go of my tendencies about medical doctor must be the officer of many important health administrators. I realize that most of our medical doctors in Indonesia love their humanity’s work as a physician, a healer, and some as a researcher. Few of us fall in love with doing administrative works.

I know in Indonesia, there is a statute that mandates that the hospital director must be a medical staff, whether you are a medical doctor or a dentist. No other profession may enter this chair of honor. And never precedes that our Health Minister but a medical doctor.

But this is new, totally new.

Managing a nation’s health business is a big responsibility. Bigger than being a medical officer or hospital leader. We are talking about the wellbeing, the healthiness of hundreds millions of Indonesia citizens. In this time of crisis, I believe we need more than a doctor, but yes, I also believe we still need a heart that full of compassion to guide the skillful mind to maneuver in this uncharted stormy sea.

I wish year to come would be a bright, clean endeavor, no longer a messy desk without chart or compass.