Poor health service alarming: Activists<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Consumer and health activists raised alarm
\nyesterday over what they saw as the tendency of hospitals,
\ndrugstores and practitioners to rake in profits at the cost of
\npublic service.<\/p>\n
They said during a workshop that health institutions often
\nneglected their social and humanitarian duties for the sake of
\nmaking money.<\/p>\n
\"We understand that they have every right to gain profit, but
\nthey should not put people's lives in danger,\" said Zoemrotin KS,
\na senior activist of the Indonesian Consumers Foundation (YLKI).<\/p>\n
Citing an example, she said that the foundation knew of
\nmedical personnel and drugstores that changed the expiry dates of
\nmedicines.<\/p>\n
The four-day workshop titled Women's Health and Consumers'
\nProtection which opened on Monday, is organized by YLKI. It is
\nbeing attended by participants from 15 provinces.<\/p>\n
According to Zoemrotin, doctors and hospitals are so money-
\noriented that they favor the rich over the poor when providing
\nservices.<\/p>\n
\"Offering luxurious rooms or entertainment facilities is okay.
\nBut if poor people receive different medical treatment from the
\nrich, it's not,\" Zoemrotin said.<\/p>\n
One of the participants, Hanartani, said that many doctors do
\nnot examine their patients. They simply hear the patients'
\ncomplaints and then scribble prescriptions.<\/p>\n
\"Then at home, the patient is confused because he does not
\nunderstand what is prescribed for him,\" she said.<\/p>\n
Prominent doctor Kartono Mohamad criticized doctors who
\nprescribe drugs without carefully examining their patients'
\ncondition.<\/p>\n
\"It amazes me to learn that such practice is widespread,\" said
\nKartono, a former chief of the Indonesian Medical Association.<\/p>\n
Many practitioners, he said, work unusually long hours -- from
\n7 p.m. until 2 a.m. -- for apparent financial considerations.
\nThere are also doctors who examine up to four patients at the
\nsame time, he said.<\/p>\n
\"How can such doctors provide good medical treatment?\" Kartono
\nasked. \"Some doctors do it because they have more patients than
\nthey can handle.\"<\/p>\n
Besides doctors, patients should also be blamed for this
\ncondition, he said.<\/p>\n
\"Many people like to consult popular or expensive doctors
\ninstead of good doctors,\" Kartono said.<\/p>\n
For example, he said, many people are reluctant to consult
\ndoctors who prescribe generic medicine, even though both the
\nmedicine and the doctors are good.<\/p>\n
He urged YLKI and other consumer advocate agencies to inform
\nthe people about their rights concerning medical treatment.<\/p>\n
He added that people should also file lawsuits against doctors
\nwho violate their professional code of ethics.<\/p>\n
\"At the moment, many people who become the victims of
\nmalpractice are reluctant to file lawsuits. They usually choose
\ncompensation,\" Kartono said.<\/p>\n
He admitted, however, it is not easy to file a lawsuit against
\na doctor. \"Even lawyers are usually satisfied with compensation,\"
\nhe said. (31)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/poor-health-service-alarming-activists-1447893297",
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