Improving the Health Institution Capacity in Understanding Business and Human Rights Principles and the Respect for Human Rights in the Health Industry of Indonesia

Improving the Health Institution Capacity in Understanding Business and Human Rights Principles and the Respect for Human Rights in the Health Industry of Indonesia

In order to increase the role of the Indonesian health industry in respecting human rights, Ministry of Health carried out a "Seminar: Business Forum and Human Rights in the Health Sector 2018" on November 15, 2018, and a High Level Focus Group Discussion (HL-FGD) on April 23, 2019. The seminar and HL-FGD discussed the development of policies and programs to respect and protect human rights in the health industry. The results of the Seminar and HL-FGD agreed that the health industry is closely related to the issue of human rights, particularly to certain group of people that are prone to have their rights violated.

On 21-22 November 2019, Ministry of Health, in collaboration with the Foundation for International Human Rights Reporting Standards (FIHRRST), held a two-day event that aimed to increase the knowledge and understanding of the business stakeholders in the health industry on business and human rights and to share best practices on how to respect for human rights is implemented in companies in the health sector.

The event was attended by, among others, Special Committee for Integrity Entrepreneurs of KADIN Susi Rai Azizi, Director of Human Rights Information of Ministry of Law and Human Rights Salahudin, FIHRRST Chair Marzuki Darusman, Secretary General of the Ministry of Health Oscar Primadi, President Director of Dr. Cipto Mangunkusumo National Central General Hospital (RSCM) Dr. Lies Dina Liastuti and other participants from the hospitals and Indonesian pharmacy companies.

On the first day (21 November 2019), the first session was led by FIHRRST Operations Director Bahtiar Manurung. The theme of the first session was the history of Business and Human rights and the UNGP, the importance and application of UNGP in national and global level, and the relation between the UNGP and health Industry. The training then continued with group discussion to identify the human rights impacts of hospital and pharmaceutical companies’ operation. Subsequently, a further explanation about the human rights principles and its relationship with the health industry were explained by Yudha Estiono and Satriyo Giri of FIHRRST.

Day 1 closed with a presentation from RSCM President Director on human rights implementation in RSCM.

The training material can be accessed at bit.ly/pelatihanbisnisdanhamkemenkes

On the second day (22 November 2019) of the event, participants had the opportunity to RSCM, which also serves as an educational institution for Faculty of Medicine, University of Indonesia, RSCM providing primary, secondary and tertiary care. RSCM is a national referral center for government hospitals and is a place for general practitioners, specialist doctors and subspecialists, nurses and other health workers. Hence, the hospital is being considered as the ideal institution to start the implementation of human rights principles in the health industry in Indonesia.

The training started with a discussion with the RSCM‘s managements, doctors and other medical personnel. Following the discussion, participants which were divided into groups observed the human rights risks and impacts that might arise in the hospital units and facilities among others include emergency unit, intensive care unit, hemodialysis unit and patient service unit.

After completing the observation, the groups’ leader presented the result of their observation.

Responding to the results of the observation, the hospital management suggested that, instead of developing a brand-new business and human rights standard for hospital, it is better to include criteria for respect for human rights in the existing hospital accreditation standards such as the standard published by Komite Akreditasi Rumah Sakit (KARS) and recognized by the Ministry of Health.

The event was closed with the hope that there will be a more identified strategic issues and instruments to develop policies in order to fulfill, protect and respect human rights in the health industry in Indonesia.


First day of the event (21 November 2019) at Morrissey Hotel, Jakarta



From left to right: Director of Human Rights Information of Ministry of Law and Human Rights Salahudin, Representative of RSCM Hervita Diatri, Special Committee for Integrity Entrepreneurs of KADIN Susi Rai Azizi, Secretary General of the Ministry of Health Oscar Primadi, Chair of FIHRRST Marzuki Darusman, Head of Bureau of International Cooperation of Ministry of Health Acep Somantri