UNAIR NEWS – The Ministry of Health is planning to offer monthly incentives of IDR 30 million to specialist doctors assigned to remote regions. This amount is intended as an additional benefit beyond their base salary, with the goal of addressing the lack of medical specialists in underserved regions.
Dr. Djazuly Chalidyanto, SKM, MARS, a lecturer at the Faculty of Public Health at Universitas Airlangga (UNAIR), shared his thoughts on the proposal. He noted that while doctors are professionals, their work is heavily dependent on healthcare technology, and financial incentives alone are not sufficient without proper supporting infrastructure.
Supporting physician well-being
Dr. Chalidyanto emphasized that specialists need more than just compensation—they require adequate support systems, such as qualified nurses and modern healthcare facilities. “The incentive is a step in the right direction, but it’s not the sole solution to the shortage of specialists,” he said.
Although financial benefits can influence a doctor’s decision to work in remote areas, other factors also play a critical role, especially for those with families. These include access to technology, cultural considerations, psychological well-being, and overall quality of life in the assigned location.
Temporary solution
He also warned that this policy serves only as a short-term solution. Many other systemic improvements are needed to ensure equitable distribution of healthcare professionals. “This is a quick fix, intended to accelerate the deployment of healthcare services, particularly of specialists,” said the health policy expert.
According to Dr. Chalidyanto, it is essential to define clear indicators of success. The government must not only monitor the number of specialists assigned to each area, but also evaluate the quality of care being provided.
He stressed the importance of clinical benchmarks, such as infection rates and recovery statistics. Additionally, non-clinical factors—like local community satisfaction with the specialists—must be taken into account.
“This is a good short-term policy,” Chalidyanto concluded, “but it needs to be closely monitored and evaluated. The presence of healthcare professionals is critical to expanding services, but too often, success is measured solely by whether a specialist is present—without asking if the community is satisfied, or if the doctors themselves are happy.”
Author: Afifah Alfina
Editor: Yulia Rohmawati
