Low-income people still rely on RSCM<\/p>\n
By Stevie Emilia and Dwi Atmanta<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Despite the mushrooming of hospitals in the
\ncity, the state-owned Cipto Mangunkusumo Hospital (RSCM) in
\nCentral Jakarta still serves as the primary medical facility for
\nmany Jakartans.<\/p>\n
A 49-year old mother who had brought her daughter to RSCM for
\nmedical treatment said she chose the hospital because she could
\nnot afford treatment at more expensive medical centers closer to
\nhome.<\/p>\n
\"There is a private hospital in my neighborhood but I think
\nmedical treatment there would be very expensive,\" said Rodiyah,
\nwho lives in North Jakarta.<\/p>\n
She admitted she had never actually entered the private
\nhospital. \"I just think I can't afford it,\" she said.<\/p>\n
RSCM director M. Ahmad Djojosugito acknowledged there are many
\nhospitals established on economic profit considerations alone. He
\nlamented that business motives often overrode many hospitals'
\nobligation to serve poorer people.<\/p>\n
He praised the cross-subsidy scheme that enables a state-owned
\nhospital such as RSCM to seek profit from higher-income patients
\nto use the money to help the majority of the patients, namely the
\npoor.<\/p>\n
The hospital reserves around Rp 2.4 billion (US$1 million) of
\nits annual subsidy for the needy, but in return it receives Rp 24
\nbillion a year from the government.<\/p>\n
Ahmad said the government subsidy is used to cover the
\nhospital's operational costs, including the salaries of the
\nalmost 6,000 employees.<\/p>\n
\"The cross-subsidy method is simply aimed at increasing funds
\nreserved for patients with lower incomes. We barely make money
\nfrom that,\" Ahmad said.<\/p>\n
He said that RSCM, the oldest hospital in the country,
\ncontinues to have trouble breaking even 77 years after its
\nestablishment.<\/p>\n
A Jakarta hospital breaks even if it makes an average of Rp
\n25,000 per bed per day.<\/p>\n
\"You can imagine how difficult it is for RSCM to make a profit
\nif 85 percent of the beds are reserved for people who can only
\nafford to pay Rp 7,500 a day,\" Ahmad said.<\/p>\n
RSCM has 1,305 beds with an average daily occupancy rate of 66
\npercent (858 beds).<\/p>\n
Medical expenses at the hospital range from Rp 7,500 to Rp
\n235,000 per day (See diagram).<\/p>\n
Ahmad, however, has a reason to smile despite the hospital's
\ndownward-looking mission. \"We have the country's best medical
\nexperts and technology,\" he said.<\/p>\n
The hospital employs 991 doctors, 90 dentists and 760
\nspecialists. They receive support from more than 1,800 medics and
\nmore than 2,000 nonmedical employees.<\/p>\n
However, like other state-owned hospitals across the country,
\nquality of service remains a challenge at RSCM. Ahmad said: \"We
\nadmit that we are not giving the best possible service. Neither
\ndo we have a totally clean hospital.<\/p>\n
\"But it's difficult to meet the two demands because we deal
\nwith a staggering 12,000 patients every day.\"<\/p>\n
While not directly speaking specifically of RSCM, Samsi
\nJacobalis, chairman of the Indonesian Hospitals Association,
\nlamented the general standard of hospital services, saying that
\nthey are simply \"inadequate\".<\/p>\n
\"Medical services providers should set new standards that put
\ncustomer, or patient, satisfaction first,\" said Samsi who is dean
\nof the Tarumanegara University School of Medicine.<\/p>\n
He said hospitals must also keep up with both changes in
\nmedical technology and customer expectations.<\/p>\n
\"If we neglect changes in the medical world, patients will
\nabandon us,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Questions of quality and service aside, the vital role of
\nhospitals like RSCM cannot be neglected.<\/p>\n
As Ahmad Djojosugito pointed out, RSCM serves as a referral
\nhospital; thus it cannot refuse any patients.<\/p>\n
\"This is the patients' last resort, we cannot refuse them even
\nthough they cannot always afford to pay,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Table: Hospital Occupancy and Rates Rates (Rp)
\n -------------------------------------------------------------------------
\n No. Hospitals Beds III II I VIP Super VIP Executive<\/p>\n
Deluxe Royal VIP
\n -------------------------------------------------------------------------
\n 1. RCSM 714 7,500 25,000 45,000 65,000 -- --
\n 2. Medistra 129 30,000 75,000 150,000 275,000 700,000 --
\n 3. Mitra Keluarga 250 45,000 75,000 125,000 250,000 350,000 --
\n 4. Metropolitan 177 30,000 90,000 160,000 250,000 375,000 400,000<\/p>\n
Medical Center
\n 5. Pluit 191 35,000 50,000 125,000 250,000 400,000 800,000<\/p>\n
75,000
\n 6. Pondok Indah 307 40,000 75,000 125,000 200,000 350,000 --
\n 7. Siloam 328 30,000 75,000 125,000 250,000 400,000 600,000<\/p>\n
Gleneagles
\n 8. St. Carolus 400 22,000 45,000 75,000 200,000 275,000 --<\/p>\n
60,000 85,000 225,000<\/p>\n
250,000
\n 9. Jakarta 122 40,000 80,000 140,000 210,000 350,000 --<\/p>\n
100,000 250,000<\/p>\n
** Rate for Siloam Gleneagles Hospital' Suite rooms is not being determined yet.<\/p>\n
RSCM : Cipto Mangunkusumo General Hospital<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/low-income-people-still-rely-on-rscm-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }