Sanglah Hospital closed to journalists<\/p>\n
Rita A. Widiadana, The Jakarta Post, Denpasar, Bali<\/p>\n
Sanglah General Hospital in Denpasar introduced a stricter
\nregulation on Wednesday, banning members of the media and the
\npublic from entering the Melati room, the Intensive Surgery
\nCenter and the morgue.<\/p>\n
Dozens of Indonesian Military troops and security guards were
\ndeployed around the areas to prevent unauthorized personnel from
\nentering.<\/p>\n
A male volunteer, a grin on his face, simply explained, \"For
\nthe safety of the patients.\"<\/p>\n
In reality, however, a number of journalists and
\nphotographers, mostly from foreign media companies, were taking
\ntheir shots in the Melati room freely.<\/p>\n
Indeed, the hospital has drawn a crowd, with hundreds of local
\nand foreign journalists flocking there every day to seek the
\nlatest information on the blast victims and identification of the
\nbodies.<\/p>\n
Some journalists, photographers and cameramen simply wait for
\npoliticians or celebrities who visit the hospital. Others
\naggressively hunt down families and friends of the patients.<\/p>\n
However, Indonesian journalists felt the hospital management
\nwas being discriminative by allowing foreign journalists to enter
\nthe restricted area but completely banning locals from the same
\nareas.<\/p>\n
\"This is discriminative treatment,\" said one local journalist
\nin an angry voice.<\/p>\n
Discrimination is also felt by local patients.<\/p>\n
\"My wife was in a very critical condition, but no ambulance
\ntook her in to the hospital,\" said Budiman, not his real name,
\nsobbing in frustration and anger.<\/p>\n
\"We are all same, we are all human beings despite our
\ndifferent skin colors and nationalities,\" added a mother, whose
\nson is being treated in the Melati room.<\/p>\n
The Melati room, refitted to treat patients with severe burns,
\nno longer looked sterile at all. Some of the windows are open,
\nallowing air to enter from outside, although the room is supposed
\nto be sterile. The doors are frequently opened to let in the
\nendless trail of celebrities, government officials and
\npoliticians who visit the seriously wounded patients.<\/p>\n
With all the foreign patients having left the island, only
\nIndonesian patients remain at the hospital.<\/p>\n
Dr. Tjakra Wibawa Manuaba, head of Sanglah's medical team,
\ndenied accusations of partial treatment.<\/p>\n
\"Since the very beginning, we have provided equal treatment
\nfor all patients regardless of their nationality,\" he said.<\/p>\n
He also said five of the remaining 27 patients would be sent
\nto the United States.<\/p>\n
\"The Australian government has also offered assistance to
\nbring critical patients there,\" he added.<\/p>\n
According to the latest data from the hospital, a total of 116
\nforeign patients had been evacuated to their countries, including
\nto the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, France and
\nDenmark.<\/p>\n
As of Wednesday, 48 bodies had been identified.<\/p>\n
\"An international team of forensic doctors are in a race
\nagainst time to identify the corpses. That's why the morgue has
\nto be closed to the public,\" he explained.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/sanglah-hospital-closed-to-journalists-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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