THE JURIDICAL STATUS OF AL FASDHU THERAPY WITHIN THE NATIONAL HEALTH SYSTEM: A REGULATORY CHALLENGE IN INDONESIA
Abstract
The Indonesian National Health System (SKN) is currently undergoing a fundamental transformation following the enactment of Law Number 17 of 2023 on Health. This research is motivated by the proliferation of Al-Fashdu (traditional bloodletting) therapy, which occupies a “grey area” between religious local knowledge and high risk invasive medical procedures. This study aims to determine the juridical status of Al-Fashdu to ensure patient protection and legal certainty for practitioners within the national health framework. Employing a normative legal research method, this study utilizes statutory and conceptual approaches, analyzing primary legal sources and relevant scientific literature from the past decade. The findings indicate that the current position of Al-Fashdu therapy within the national health system lacks legal certainty. Although normatively recognized as a skill based traditional health service, the practice frequently involves the use of invasive medical equipment by empirical traditional practitioners lacking formal medical qualifications. De jure, this constitutes a violation of the prohibition against the unauthorized use of medical devices according to national standards. The absence of specific technical regulations results in an ambiguous standard of care, which undermines patient protection and exposes practitioners to significant risks of criminal liability for malpractice. This article presents a critical analysis, emphasizing the need for a paradigm shift from purely administrative supervision to risk-based supervision. There is scientific justification for the Ministry of Health to reclassify Al-Fashdu therapy as a “complementary” traditional service that requires clinical certification and scientific validation in accordance with WHO biosafety standards. This restructuring is urgently required to harmonize biocultural recognition with the citizens' right to health and safety in an integrated and accountable manner.
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