Dengue funds not forthcoming for health center upgrades<\/p>\n
Damar Harsanto, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
The city is to upgrade 40 district-level public health centers to
\naccommodate dengue fever patients to solve overcrowding at 16
\nhospitals allocated to treat the disease.<\/p>\n
\"The administration issued the instruction (for the upgrade)
\nlast week, but when I checked this morning, it had yet to be
\nimplemented. The health centers are still waiting for funds from
\nthe city secretary,\" Deputy Governor Fauzi Bowo said on Monday.<\/p>\n
Fauzi said the new centers would enable dengue patients to get
\nmedical treatment closer to home.<\/p>\n
The Jakarta Health Agency had asked the Ministry of Health to
\nprovide extra medical staff to work at the health centers, he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
\"At least, 200 doctors and nurses are needed. Five to six
\npeople will be assigned at each center.\"<\/p>\n
Latest figures from the agency say the number of dengue fever
\npatients has reached about 8,300 citywide since the beginning of
\nJanuary, with 62 dying from the disease.<\/p>\n
Councillor Syamsidar Siregar of Commission E overseeing the
\npeople's welfare had recommended the administration upgrade the
\nhealth centers after observing the overcrowding in hospitals.<\/p>\n
\"The upgrade will be financed with the city budget's
\nadditional expenses account,\" she said. She did not mention what
\namount would be allocated.<\/p>\n
The city has disbursed operational funds of between Rp 200
\nmillion (US$23,809) and Rp 300 million to each district-level
\nhealth center for preventive measures to curb the outbreak.<\/p>\n
The commission also proposed a new health bylaw to ensure poor
\npeople gained access to government health services.<\/p>\n
\"The agency has not followed up our recommendations (about the
\nnew bylaw) until today. It said it was still unable to provide
\nexperts to draft the law,\" Syamsidar said.<\/p>\n
Hospitals are obliged to cover poor people's medical expenses
\nbefore they claim money from the agency.<\/p>",
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