Polemic Over Health Bill
There was an unusual sight in Jakarta on Monday (8/5/2023) when thousands of people wearing red and white held a demonstration in the area around the National Monument (Monas) and the Health Ministry.
Two health workers held up posters containing protest messages against the Health Bill during a demonstration in the area of the Arjuna Wiwaha Horse Statue, Central Jakarta, Monday (8/5/2023).
They were health workers from various professional organizations, namely the Indonesian Medical Association (IDI), the Indonesian Dental Association (PDGI), the Indonesian National Nurses Association (PPNI), the Indonesian Pharmacists Association (IAI) and the Indonesian Midwives Association (IBI). They were protesting the Health Bill, which has been drafted using the omnibus legislation method.
An omnibus bill gathers together many cross-sectoral regulations at different levels as a single regulatory product. Using an omnibus law is expected to more easily regulate all health affairs, from stakeholders, patients, health workers, pharmacies, hospitals, and to investors. On the other hand, this type of simplification also risks eliminating important issues because of the many rules and their wide scope that must be synchronized.