PRESIDENTIAL, VP CANDIDATES TO UNDERGO TEN TYPES OF MEDICAL TESTS

Jakarta, April 22 (ANTARA) - Presidential hopefuls and his or her running mates who will participate in the July 8 presidential race should undergo ten types of physical health tests, the Indonesian Medical Association (IDI) chief said.

The physical health test would include an examination of internal diseases, heart, blood vessel, lungs, surgery and urology,
Dr.dr Fachmi Idris M. Kes, IDI executive board general chairman said here Tuesday.
In addition, the medical test will also cover orthopaedics, obstretics gynaecology, neurology, eyes, ears, nose and throat, he cited.
"The medical test will be conducted in a hospital which has complete experts and specialists. Only one hospital which is assigned to conduct the medical check," he said in a familiarizing function about the implementation of the July 8 presidential race held by the General Election Commission (KPU).
Presidential and vice presidential hopefuls who have met the requirements will receive letters of introduction issued by the KPU to exercise physical and mentality checks at an assigned hospital, Idris said, explaining that the tests for the 2009 presidential and vice presidential candidates are not much different from that of the 2004.
Apart from that, a test of psychological condition will also be carried out, he cited.
Idris said further that presidential and vice presidential candidates should be free from diseases or disability. If they suffer from illness or disability which do not hamper their works, the candidates are considered as still able to carry out their tasks for the next five near term.
If the candidates have no disabilities, it means that they meet the requirements, Idris cited.
KPU and IDI have issued a technical guidance in evaluating the mental and physical capacity of the would-be presidents and vice presidents, Idris said, noting that the guidance have been approved in a KPU plenary meeting.
The IDI chairman expressed hope that the technical guidance should be handed over immediately to political parties for further study.
Registration for the would be president and vice president will start from May 10-17, while examination of one's mental and physical condition will be conducted on May 11-15.
Law no.42/2009 about presidential and vice presidential elections on article 18 stipulates that if the would-be presidential pair fails to meet the requirements, KPU would require the political party or coalesced political parties to name other pairs for further verification.