The Indonesian Medical Association (IDI) this week said Indonesia has one of the highest death rates among health workers in the world as it gave a grim update how the health sector continues to struggle amid the pandemic.
Since March 2020, or the onset of the pandemic in Indonesia, at least 647 medical workers have died after being infected with the coronavirus, according to IDI. This includes 289 doctors, 27 dentists, 221 nurses, 84 midwives, 11 pharmacists, and 15 medical lab workers — with 19 professors among them.
“53 doctor deaths were recorded throughout December 2020,” Adib Khumaidi, who heads IDI’s mitigation team, said in a written statement yesterday.
IDI said it also doubts that mass vaccinations would suppress the country’s COVID-19 mortality rates in the near future.
“[Mass vaccination] will not work optimally if the public continue to ignore health protocols, namely wearing face masks, washing hands using soap or hand sanitizer, maintaining physical distance, limiting mobility, and avoiding crowds,” Adib said.
Indonesia today recorded its highest number of confirmed deaths at 476, beating the previous daily record yesterday at 387. The national COVID-19 tally currently stands at 1,037,993, which includes 842,122 recoveries and 29,331 deaths.
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