Law No. 29 of 2004 on Medical Practice (UU 29/2004) was repealed and declared invalid by Law No. 17 of 2023 on Health (UU 17/2023 Article 454 letter c), effective 8 August 2023 (Article 458). UU 17/2023 replaces it by governing both medical personnel (physicians and dentists) and health workforce members under a single unified statute. For clinic and hospital managers, the most significant operational changes involve STR. Furthermore, SIP validity periods, expanded informed-consent elements, facility ownership of medical record documents, and professional disciplinary enforcement.
One omnibus health law replaces eleven statutes
UU 29/2004 governed medical practice specifically for physicians and dentists (Article 1 point 1). UU 17/2023 repealed eleven health-related laws simultaneously, including UU 29/2004 (Article 454). Furthermore, Regulates medical personnel alongside the broader health workforce (for example, in Articles 260 and 274).
Implementing regulations issued under UU 29/2004 did not automatically lapse. Article 453 letter b states that existing implementing rules remain valid insofar as they do not conflict with UU 17/2023. At the government regulation tier, PP 28/2024 was enacted on 26 July 2024. Meaning facilities must check older ministerial regulations article by article against UU 17/2023 and PP 28/2024.
Lifetime STR and five-year SIP validity
The licensing validity structure is now reversed. Under UU 29/2004, the Registration Certificate (STR) was valid for five years (Article 29(4)). At the same time, The Practice License (SIP) remained valid as long as the STR was active and the practice location was unchanged (Article 38(2)).
Under UU 17/2023, the STR is issued by the Council on behalf of the Minister. Furthermore, Remains valid for life (Article 260(2) and (4)), unless deactivated or revoked (Article 261). Conversely, the SIP now carries a five-year validity period and is renewed based on an active STR, practice location proof. In addition, Sufficient Professional Credit Units or SKP (Article 264(3) and (4)).
For initial SIP issuance, Article 264(1) of UU 17/2023 lists only an STR. Furthermore, Practice location proof, omitting the professional organization recommendation previously required by Article 38(1) of UU 29/2004. An SIP ceases to be valid if the STR is revoked or deactivated, or if the practice location changes (Article 264(6)). District or city governments issue SIPs subject to workforce quotas set by the central government (Article 263(3) and (5)).
Each SIP remains valid for one practice location only (PP 28/2024 Article 682(2)), with detailed licensing rules delegated to a Ministerial Regulation (Article 687). Transitional rules for existing STRs and SIPs appear in UU 17/2023 Article 449 and PP 28/2024 Article 1162. Hospital HR teams must now track five-year SIP renewal cycles, SKP fulfillment, and STR active status.
Informed consent, medical record ownership, and confidentiality
Pre-procedure explanation requirements expanded from five items (UU 29/2004 Article 45(3)) to seven items under UU 17/2023 Article 293(3). Diagnosis, indication, procedure and purpose, risks and complications, alternatives and their risks, risks if the procedure is not performed, and prognosis. Written consent is mandatory before invasive and/or high-risk procedures, signed by the patient or representative. Furthermore, Witnessed by a medical or health professional (Article 293(4), (5), and (8)).
Regarding medical records, UU 17/2023 Article 297(1) states that the medical record document belongs to the healthcare facility. For care delivered outside independent solo practice, the facility is responsible for administering the medical record (Article 296(2)). Furthermore, Safeguarding data security, integrity, confidentiality, and availability (Article 297(3)), while patients retain the right to access their medical record information (Article 276 letter e).
Patient confidentiality obligations continue under Article 301(1), with eight statutory exceptions listed in Article 4(4). Because employers are not listed among those exceptions, individual clinical reports remain with the patient and medical team. At the same time, Employers receive fitness-for-work conclusions only where supported by the patient's own request (letter f) or specific statutory mandates (letter h).
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Disciplinary enforcement moves to the Professional Disciplinary Council (MDP)
Professional discipline, previously handled by the autonomous Indonesian Medical Disciplinary Honor Council or MKDKI (UU 29/2004 Article 55). Now sits with a council established by the Minister (UU 17/2023 Article 304(2)–(4)). Named the Professional Disciplinary Council (Majelis Disiplin Profesi or MDP) under PP 28/2024 Articles 712(3) and 714(1).
Disciplinary sanctions under Article 306(1) include written warnings, mandatory education or training, temporary STR deactivation, and/or SIP revocation recommendations. Complaint standing belongs to patients or families whose interests are harmed (Article 305(1)). Furthermore, criminal investigations or civil liability claims alleging service violations must first request an MDP recommendation. Subject to a 14-working-day deemed-approval deadline (Article 308(1), (2), (7), and (8))—and disputes must prioritize out-of-court alternative dispute resolution first (Article 310).
What clinics and hospitals should verify
- Publish the names, SIP and STR numbers, and practice schedules of all medical and health personnel to avoid administrative sanctions (Article 283(2)–(4) and Article 284).
- Track five-year SIP expiration dates, SKP credit fulfillment, and practice-site changes (Article 264(3), (4), and (6)).
- Update informed-consent forms to cover all seven elements of Article 293(3) and align facility medical record governance. Furthermore, Clinical workflows such as Micromeet Care Workspace with Articles 296–297.
Prior councils remain on duty until new bodies are formally seated under UU 17/2023 Articles 450 and 452 and PP 28/2024 Article 1167. Full statutory texts can be checked at JDIH BPK.
Legal basis
- Law No. 17 of 2023 on Health: Article 4(4). Articles 260 to 264. Article 274. Article 276 letter e. Articles 283 and 284. Article 293. Articles 296 and 297. Article 301. Articles 304 to 308. Article 310. Articles 449, 450, 452, 453 letter b, 454 letter c, and 458.
- Law No. 29 of 2004 on Medical Practice (repealed): Article 1 point 1. Article 29(4). Articles 37, 38, 41, 42, 45, 47, 48(2), 55, 66, and 69(3).
- Government Regulation No. 28 of 2024: Article 682(2). Article 687. Article 712(3). Article 714(1). Articles 1162 and 1167.
With UU 17/2023 clinical governance, documentation workflows remain physician-led. AI writes. Doctors decide. Verify statutory articles at JDIH BPK and JDIH Kemkes.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Is the Medical Practice Act (UU 29/2004) still valid in Indonesia?
No. Article 454 letter c of Health Law No. 17 of 2023 (UU 17/2023) repealed UU 29/2004 in full on 8 August 2023.
Which articles in UU 17/2023 now govern medical records and patient confidentiality?
Articles 296 to 299 of UU 17/2023 govern medical records, while Article 301 and Article 4(1)(i) govern medical confidentiality and patient privacy rights.
Did UU 17/2023 change the validity period of a physician's registration certificate (STR)?
Yes. Under Article 260(4) of UU 17/2023, the Registration Certificate (STR) is valid for life. At the same time, The Practice License (SIP) remains valid for five years under Article 263(4).
