Jakarta, April 21 -- Indonesia's Ministry of Health will begin conducting psychiatric screenings twice a year for participants in the Specialist Doctor Education Program (PPDS), in a bid to monitor and support their mental health.

Speaking at a joint press conference with the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, and Technology on Monday, Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin said recent concerns involving PPDS participants are alarming and have affected the wider public.

To address this, the ministry is pushing for systematic and concrete improvements to the program.

Sadikin proposed establishing regular forums with PPDS participants to assess both their mental and physical well-being. He also urged hospital directors at educational in...