Patients stay away from doctors<\/p>\n
PURWOKERTO, Central Java: The recession descending upon the
\ncountry has forced many to reassess their lifestyles, but one man
\nmay have taken it a bit too far.<\/p>\n
The director of Emmanuel Hospital in Banjarnegara, Dr. Yahya
\nWardoyo, said yesterday that one of his regular dialysis patients
\nhad decided to cancel his monthly treatment when he was told it
\nhad gone up from Rp 225,000 (US$26.50) to Rp 500,000.<\/p>\n
The patient went home after rejecting the near double price.<\/p>\n
In a somber tone, Yahya then revealed that a week later he
\nlearned that the patient had died.<\/p>\n
Price increases have also affected the number of patients
\ngoing to the community health center (Puskesmas) in Banyumas
\nafter it raised its registration fee from Rp 400 to Rp 2,500.<\/p>\n
According to officials, the number of patients has dipped to
\nan average of less than 15 a day from about 50.<\/p>\n
Banyumas regency legislative speaker, Nursoleh Warsono, said
\nyesterday that permission to raise the price had been granted.
\nThe increase was deemed necessary to adjust to the high cost of
\nhealth care.<\/p>\n
The head of the Banyumas health office defended the new price,
\nsaying that services there were still relatively cheaper than
\nthey were at private practices. (45)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/patients-stay-away-from-doctors-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}