REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, PONTIANAK -- A member of the Indonesian Medical Doctors Association (IDI) of West Kalimantan, Dr. Nursyam Ibrahim, said the organization encourages competency tests and certification for foreign health workers wishing to practice in Indonesia.

"The ASEAN Economic Community agreement includes allowing foreign workers, including health personnel, to work in a member country. The IDI continues to encourage the implementation of competency and certification tests for foreign health workers to open their own practice in Indonesia," Nursyam said here on Monday.

He said the IDI has been discussing with the relevant ministries the feasibility of allowing foreign health workers to practice in Indonesia for 15 years now.

"We are monitoring the foreign medical professionals in Indonesia. One of the standard requirements for foreign health workers to be allowed to work in Indonesia is that they must understand the Indonesian language," Nursyam noted.

He added that foreign health personnel working in Indonesia also must pass competency and certification tests applicable in Indonesia.

"Such a policy will be fair to both Indonesian and foreign medical personnel," he stated.

According to Nursyam, competency and certification tests for medical workers are not easy. A specialist who fails to pass the competency test will find it impossible to open a practice.

If the foreign medical workers meet the qualifications and requirements applied in Indonesia, then they will be allowed to work in this country, Nursyam explained.

"Such protection mechanism is also in place in other countries. The arrangement is not implemented by the government, but by professional organizations, such as IDI," Nursyam informed.

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