Four hospitals to get free medical supplies<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Four major state hospitals in the country are to
\nget free medical supplies donated by private businesses in the
\nUnited States, it was announced on Friday.<\/p>\n
The relief valued at US$1.73 million arrived at Soekarno-Hatta
\nInternational Airport on Friday morning in a special Federal
\nExpress cargo plane from the U.S.<\/p>\n
The airlift was organized by Uplift International, a U.S.-
\nbased non-profit organization.<\/p>\n
The hospitals which will receive donations are Cipto
\nMangunkusumo Hospital in Jakarta, Dr. Soetomo Hospital in
\nSurabaya, East Java, Dr. Wahidin Sudirohusodo Hospital in
\nUjungpandang, South Sulawesi, and Dr. W.Z. Johannes Hospital in
\nKupang, East Nusa Tenggara.<\/p>\n
\"A preliminary Uplift field visit identified the four
\nhospitals as being the most in need. So this first donation will
\nbe given directly to the four hospitals,\" Minister of Health
\nFarid Anfasa Moeloek said.<\/p>\n
\"To ensure continuity of health services to the community
\n...an adequate supply of drugs and life saving medical supplies must in
\ntime be provided to all health facilities,\" Farid said.<\/p>\n
\"Therefore I can assure you that the government will take
\nresponsibility for distributing the donated goods to where they
\nare most needed.\"<\/p>\n
The minister was meeting the press at the Sheraton Bandara
\nHotel after symbolically receiving the donations from Uplift
\nInternational Chairman Mark H. Schlansky at the airport.<\/p>\n
Schlansky said the donation would not be \"a one time effort\"
\nfrom the U.S. private sector, but would continue in the future.
\nHe said later that more medical relief supplies would arrive in
\nNovember, but did not elaborate.<\/p>\n
Included in the consignment which arrived on Friday were
\ninsulin, cardiovascular and emergency treatment drugs, drugs for
\neye diseases, medication for gastro-intestinal disorders, pain
\nkillers for adults and children, and medications for colds,
\ncoughs, allergies and other respiratory ailments.<\/p>\n
Also included were antibiotics, antiparasitic preparations,
\nsterile dressing and bandages, surgical supplies, vitamins and
\nnutritional supplements, and general hospital and clinic
\nsupplies.<\/p>\n
The price of patented drugs soared by as much as 70 percent
\nearlier this year, while generic drugs, which account for about
\n80 of prescribed medications, jumped in price by up to 55
\npercent. People have complained that certain drugs are also hard
\nto find. Uplift stated that Friday's shipment of medical supplies
\nhad received financial support from 10 U.S. companies, support
\nin-kind from two U.S. companies and donations of medical supplies
\nfrom a further 19 companies.<\/p>\n
These include American International Group Inc., Procter and
\nGamble, Ford Motor, the Boeing Company, Levi Strauss & Co, Good
\nYear Tire and Rubber Co., and a number of U.S. oil companies.<\/p>\n
Also witnessing Friday's ceremony were U.S. Ambassador J.
\nStapleton Roy, the regional vice president of Federal Express
\nSouth Pacific Region, David Cunningham, the executive director of
\nthe U.S.-ASEAN Business Council, Joseph Hayes, the president of
\nthe U.S.- Indonesia Society, Ed Masters, and Humanitarian
\nAssistance and Gift-in-Kind project director Duane Scott. (aan)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/four-hospitals-to-get-free-medical-supplies-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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