The recent news that the Jakarta Police are investigating an American chiropractor for malpractice leading to the death of one of his patients has put the spotlight on the issue of foreigners working in illegal health clinics in the capital.
Increased attention on the issue has led the government to investigate numerous health clinics throughout the capital and so far the Jakarta Health Department has shut down at least 15.
“The closure of illegal health clinics continues to go ahead and we will continue to conduct spot checks,” said Jakarta Health Department Head Koesmedy at City Hall on Monday, as quoted by Tempo.
Koesmedy said that the clinics were closed because they did not have the proper licenses to operate in Jakarta. He also said that seven health care workers had been detained – including two chiropractors, a beautician and two orthopedic doctors – for not having the proper permits to work in Indonesia.
One has to wonder how so many supposedly illegal, improperly licensed health clinics were able to exist in Jakarta up until news about the chiropractic death investigation broke. The Jakarta Health Department was apparently not doing any “spot checks” before then.
Meanwhile, Dr Randall Cafferty, the chiropractor whose treatment is suspected of causing the death of 33-year-old Allya Siska Nadya last year, remains on the run from authorities, including Interpol. Indonesian police believe he has not yet left the country.
