VIVAnews - Chief of Indonesian National Nurses Association (PPNI) Achiryani S Hamid said Law no 36/2009 on Health is a threat against the nurses, especially to those working in remote areas. These nurses are vulnerable to legal charges due to the existence of the law.
“The law doesn’t only harm the applicants, but also nurses all over the country,” Hamid said during a trial at the Constitutional Court in Jakarta on Thursday, May 6.
In secluded regions where number of doctors is really low, nurses often have to give out prescription G-rated drugs to their patients.
“In case of emergency, it shouldn’t be a problem if a nurse prescribe these drugs,” she said.
Meanwhile, East Kalimantan Indonesian National Nurses Association (PPNI) Head Edy Sukamto said the Health Law had increased the vulnerability level of the nurses. Therefore, he expects the clause on whether or not the nurses are allowed to give prescribed medicines to be made more detailed.
Misran, a nurse from Kutai Kartanegara East Kalimantan was prosecuted and ruled guilty for prescribing G-rated drugs. According to the law, these types of drugs are only allowed to be prescribed by doctors. However, Misran considered his action reasonable.
First, there are not any other doctors in the areas. Second, the diseases suffered by his patients could only be cured by the drugs as such. Finally, he had no choice but prescribing the drugs because otherwise he would be subjected to Article 190 paragraph 1 of Law no 36 stating that every medical staff member, who does not provide medical assistance to those in need, may be prosecuted.
Hence, Misran has asked the Constitutional Court to revoke the clauses that could put the nurses giving prescribed medications into legal situations.
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Translated by: Nataya Ermanti
