New grading for hospitals: Sujudi<\/p>\n
SURABAYA (JP): The government is introducing an accreditation
\nsystem for hospitals in order that the public may be better
\ninformed about the quality of their facilities.<\/p>\n
Minister of Health Sujudi said accreditation would be given to
\nhospitals that have attained certain medical and administrative
\nstandards.<\/p>\n
"Accreditation will indicate government approval for a
\nhospital. It will also serve as a long-term, continuous program
\naimed at improving the quality of hospitals," Sujudi said at the
\nlaunching of the Adi Husada Kapasari hospital on Friday.<\/p>\n
The accreditation agency will assess five aspects of
\nhospitals: administration and management; medical services;
\ntreatment services; emergency care; and medical records.<\/p>\n
Sujudi declined to give details of the plan but said a pilot
\nproject for the accreditation program will be carried out on ten
\nhospitals.<\/p>\n
The accreditation system will be in addition to the hospital
\nrating system already in use. Under the rating system hospitals
\nare placed into one of four categories, according to their
\nlocation and facilities. The highest category is Class A. Only
\nhospitals located in provincial capitals can come within classes
\nA or B.<\/p>\n
Four hospitals currently enjoy an A rating: Cipto Mangunkusumo
\nin Jakarta, Dr. Soetomo in Surabaya, Adam Malik in Medan and
\nWahidin in Ujungpandang, all of which provide education and the
\nmost complete range of health services available in the country.<\/p>\n
Class C is for hospitals located outside provincial capitals
\nwhich provide at least four basic services: maternity care,
\nchildcare, surgery and internal disease treatment. They must also
\nhave X-ray, laboratory, anesthetic and other facilities.<\/p>\n
Class D, which comprises most of the country's hospitals, have
\nthe least facilities.<\/p>\n
Need<\/p>\n
Sujudi said that more than 100 Class D hospitals were in need
\nof improved facilities as well as more specialist staff.<\/p>\n
He said upgrading hospitals was not easy since it meant
\ninvesting large sums of money in expansion and infrastructure
\nfacilities.<\/p>\n
On another matter, Sujudi said that, in compliance with the
\nGeneral Agreement on Tariffs and Trade, Indonesia is opening its
\ndoors to foreign physicians to work in the country.<\/p>\n
Sujudi said that, initially, hospitals may only hire foreign
\nphysicians for jobs for which no Indonesians are available. "They
\n(foreigners) must be employed in such a way that there is a
\ntransfer of technology and knowhow to Indonesian experts," he
\nadded.<\/p>\n
But that restriction will have to be phased out completely by
\n2020 in line with Indonesia's commitment to free trade, he said.<\/p>\n
Indonesia will also allow foreign investors to enter the
\nhospital sector, on condition that they work in a joint venture
\nwith Indonesian investors.<\/p>\n
Sujudi said foreign investors would probably target wealthy
\nIndonesians who currently go overseas for medical treatment.<\/p>\n
"If the rich could opt for `foreign hospitals' within the
\ncountry, instead of having to go overseas, it could save a lot in
\nforeign currency," he said.<\/p>\n
"Foreign hospitals" which are set up in the future should
\ncontinue to provide an alternative for this group, he said. (pwn)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/new-grading-for-hospitals-sujudi-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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