In Indonesia, the distribution of doctors in the provinces of Java has a higher number of doctors compared to provinces in eastern Indonesia. This inequality is still a problem to achieve the goal of a healthy Indonesian society. One of the main factors causing the uneven distribution of doctors is Indonesia's wide geographical reach and significant regional variations in the availability of health services. As a form of action to respond to the issue of inequality of doctors in Indonesia, SCOPE and SCOME CIMSA UGM initiated BRING (Bridging Regional Inequality in Indonesia’s Healthcare) activity in order to celebrate National Doctors’ Day which falls on October 24,2024. This is an opportunity to increase knowledge and awareness of the medical student in Yogyakarta about the unequal distribution of doctors in Indonesia
by referring to countries abroad that have already succeeded in overcoming the problem of the distribution of doctors.
BRING began with Pre-Project Training, which was held on October 4th, 2024. This training was led by Clayrine Georgyna Suwandy as Exchange Trainer and Muhammad Arkan Ramadhan as Medical Education Trainer. After that, the training session was followed by a focus group discussion, in which the OCs were divided into five groups to choose and discuss three countries with the best health systems in those five different regions.
The main event, which took place on October 12, 2024, is the second series of this activity. In this part, BRING invited three guests to share their experiences as physicians who practiced in rural areas and to address the disparity in the distribution of doctors through a panel debate. They are Dr. Lutfan Lazuardi, M.Kes., PhD, from HPM UGM, Dr. Mikha Chandra Tampubolon, M.Sc., Sp.A., as an alumnus of CIMSA UGM, and Dr. Benny Hwanggara from doctorSHARE. Additionally, BRING got the chance to speak online with three WHO experts. The main event concluded with a five-booth exhibition highlighting the subjects discussed in the focus groups during the pre-project training.
Later, on October 24th, in honor of National Doctor's Day and to conclude BRING's activity, the entire organizing committee gathered to give flowers to the doctors at FK-KMK UGM and Sardjito Hospital. These flowers are offered as a token of gratitude for the services and commitment that doctors provide to save the lives of all of their patients.
