The Challenges Of Physical Medicine And Rehabilitation (PMR) in Developing Country - Indonesia Experience

摘要

Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (PMR) as a new specialty faces many challenges during its implementation and development, including in Indonesia as a developing country. The implementation of PMR started only during 1970's although rehabilitation services has been introduced since 1947 after World War II by the Late Professor Dokter R. Soeharso in Surakarta. First challenge met was the production of PMR Specialists prompting several Physicians having to attain PMR Education and Training abroad and coming home faced the second challenge of being rejected as a new medical specialty among the already existing medical specialties. Another rejection came from the earlier existing allied health professionals. Straggles to overcome the challenges were initially forming the IDARI (Indonesian Association of Rehabilitation Medicine Specialists) in 1982, followed by the provision of PMR Residency Training Program in 1984 at three main universities, namely University of Indonesia, Airlangga University and Dipone-goro University. Recognition by the Ministry of Education for PMR Specialty Training Program was only given in May 1987, and recognition of PMR as a Medical Specialty by the Indonesian Medical Association was only given in 1990. Existency of Indonesian PMR had to be maintained and preserved continuously even up to the present time when more than 350 PMR Specialists were already produced from five training centers. Challenges are still met, on top of the persisting initial challenges, such as the evenly distribution of PMR Specialists in the county to meet the demands of serving a population of more than 250 million people spread among 14,000 islands of Indonesia; combining the simple traditional method with the modem sophisticated method of PMR management. Continuing education and pursuing higher level of education have provided additional credits to the existency. and proven qualified standard professional performances, including roles in the community even during disasters, have made PMR Specialty one among the Medical Spesialties to be taken into consideration seriously.