Indonesia Health Ministry Probes Doctor Intern Deaths, Mandates Screening

The Indonesian Ministry of Health reported that the death of Dr. Muhammad Zulfikar Drakel, an intern doctor at RSUD KH Ahmad Hanafiah in Lampung, was not linked to bullying or excessive work hours. Director General of Health Human Resources Dr. Yuli Farianti said the investigation found his shift complied with the 40‑hour weekly limit and no intimidation was observed.

Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin, reacting to a second fatality involving Dr. Siti Zahra Maghfira, called for immediate mental‑health screening of all participants in the Doctor Internship Program and Specialist Training. He expressed deep sadness and emphasized that early detection of psychological risk could prevent further incidents.