American university, Gleneagles sign deal<\/p>\n
TANGERANG, West Java (JP): The Siloam Gleneagles hospital, the
\nfirst hospital set up under the foreign investment scheme in the
\ncountry, and the University of Southern California signed a deal
\non technology transfer yesterday.<\/p>\n
Gleneagles was represented by its president, Johannes Oentoro
\nand the University of Southern California was represented by its
\nTechnology Transfer Director Pablo Valencia.<\/p>\n
Also present were Joseph P. Van Der Meulen, vice president of
\nthe university's health affairs.<\/p>\n
Under the agreement, Gleneagles doctors will be trained by the
\nuniversity's staff and provided with the latest medical
\ninformation and technologies.<\/p>\n
Some of the trainees would be sent to California and others
\nwould get in-house training by the Californian teachers.<\/p>\n
Oentoro said the agreement was to promote education, training,
\nresearch and technology transfer in health care from the
\nUniversity of Southern California School of Medicine.<\/p>\n
The Siloam Gleneagles Hospital now employs about 200 doctors,
\nincluding specialists.<\/p>\n
\"However, only about 30 percent of the doctors are full-
\ntimers,\" Oentoro said after the signing ceremony.<\/p>\n
He said the rest of the doctors were part-timers recruited
\nfrom hospitals in Jakarta, including the Cipto Mangunkusumo
\nGeneral Hospital.<\/p>\n
The US$49 million-Siloam Gleneagles Hospital, which started
\noperating January 1996 was officially opened to the public in
\nSeptember. It is the first hospital operating under the foreign
\ninvestment scheme in Indonesia, and a joint venture between
\nLippoLand Development of Indonesia and Gleneagles International
\nof Singapore.<\/p>\n
According to Indonesian law, privately-funded hospitals must
\nset aside about 10 percent of their beds for the poor at reduced
\nfees.<\/p>\n
However, reports say the regulation is ineffective as most
\npoor people feel intimidated just by the \"look\" of such hospitals
\nand tend to seek treatment elsewhere.<\/p>\n
Oentoro denied the reports, saying many poor people had had
\nmedical treatment in his hospital.<\/p>\n
\"Until now, we have set aside 11.7 percent of our 80 beds for
\ncharity. Some of the patients even came from out of town,\"
\nOentoro said. \"The patients just show a letter of recommendation
\nfrom their doctors, stating they could not afford to pay the
\nhospital.\"<\/p>\n
Gleneagles have agreed to assist three hospitals in Maumere,
\nEast Nusa Tenggara; Manado, North Sulawesi; and Tana Toraja,
\nSouth Sulawesi, to improve their human resources, facilities and
\nmedical supplies.<\/p>\n
\"We have told the hospitals to send at least two nurses to be
\ntrained here after Idul Fitri,\" Oentoro said.<\/p>\n
Minister of Health Sujudi urged earlier private hospitals to
\nassist clinics and rural community health centers, which
\nrepresent the backbone of health services for low-income
\nfamilies.<\/p>\n
\"We expect to assist more hospitals, but we're still new and
\nhave to manage our hospital first,\" Oentoro said.<\/p>\n
Oentoro said Gleneagles expected to reach 100 percent
\noccupancy by the end of the year. \"Currently our occupancy rate
\nis about 52 percent from 80 beds available,\" Oentoro said. The
\nhospital is scheduled to have 328 beds.<\/p>\n
Oentoro said 60 to 70 percent of the hospital patients came
\nfrom the Tangerang area. (ste)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/american-university-gleneagles-sign-deal-1447893297",
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