Sismadi helps the poor, creates employment<\/p>\n
By I. Christianto<\/p>\n
Human expectations of hospitals changes from time to time.
\nCenturies ago, hospitals were seen as inseparable from death.
\nHospitals were the place where ailing pilgrims sought refuge and
\nthe care of nuns, as well as preparation to face death. The sick
\nwere called \"patients\" because of their patience in suffering
\nillness.<\/p>\n
Gradually, perceptions of hospitals changed. Hospitals began
\nto be seen as a place where people sought life, not death. They
\nbecame a place that not only saved life but improved its quality,
\na concept Sismadi Partodimulyo strives to follow.<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): For surgeon Sismadi Partodimulyo, running
\nseveral hospitals and helping low-income patients get well is a
\nblessing.<\/p>\n
He started his business at home in the Tanjung Priok area of
\nNorth Jakarta in 1972. He now controls a number of hospitals,
\nhealth centers and optical centers. He also runs a medicine
\nequipment business.<\/p>\n
He is currently the only person wholly controlling a private
\nhospital in Indonesia.<\/p>\n
Sismadi was born in Jatinom, a small town near Surakarta,
\nCentral Java, on Aug. 19, 1930. He graduated from the medical
\nschool of state-owned Gadjah Mada University in Yogyakarta.<\/p>\n
Married to Zainah in 1959, Sismadi has three daughters and two
\nsons, all of whom studied medicine in spite of his wish they
\npursue different professions.<\/p>\n
Among the hospitals he owns are Sukmul, Harum, Sunter Medical
\nCenter, and Remedika Bintaro Clinic. He has three pharmacies and
\nfive optical centers in various parts of Jakarta.<\/p>\n
He controls the Harum Medical School and Sismadi Nursing
\nAcademy and has a number of other health-related companies,
\nincluding a medical equipment supplier and a company selling
\nwaste water treatment equipment.<\/p>\n
Sismadi chose the health sector for several reasons; one was
\nthe country's political situation under president Sukarno's Old
\nOrder government. He describes this period as \"uncertain\".<\/p>\n
\"Indonesia's economic rating reached its lowest ever,
\nunemployment was high, as was the dropout rate ... everybody felt
\ninsecure,\" he said.<\/p>\n
\"Many friends of mine -- also ethnic Chinese -- were looking
\nfor work when I was already a physician. I hired them to assist
\nme in my practice at home, but the number of people seeking jobs
\nbecame too great.\"<\/p>\n
Sismadi became surgeon at the University of Indonesia in
\nJakarta in 1971, a time when even medical specialists found it
\nhard to find employment.<\/p>\n
\"I wondered then, 'Why don't I establish my own hospital?'\".
\nThis thought gave birth to the establishment of his first health
\nclinic in 1972 in Tanjung Priok, North Jakarta, which was also
\nthe country's first community health center (Puskesmas).<\/p>\n
The clinic, named Sukmul, became a hospital in 1980 and is now
\na modern medical facility.<\/p>\n
\"Our patients used to come on bicycles; now they come on
\nmotorcycles. We followed suit -- made changes and improved
\nservice, though still with cheaper tariffs.\"<\/p>\n
Coincidence<\/p>\n
Sismadi attributed some of his achievements to coincidence.<\/p>\n
Sismadi established his first pharmacy in 1971. \"There was a
\npharmacist looking for a job and at almost the same time a friend
\noffered to help me run a pharmacy. I set up the first pharmacy at
\nmy house without any investment. Licenses, employees and medicine
\nsupplies were handled by my friend.\"<\/p>\n
Sismadi also opened his first optical center, the Warakas, in
\nearly 1970s.<\/p>\n
The ophthalmologists worked as opticians only. \"There was a
\nvery limited number of optical centers at that time; that's why I
\ndecided to set up my own.\"<\/p>\n
Sismadi said before the optical center opened he had started
\nmarketing eyeglasses he made door-to-door. He admitted he was
\nalso interested in making glasses and lenses.<\/p>\n
Sismadi realized he had entrepreneurial talent when he was in
\nfourth grade in Jatinom. \"I read a book called Panglima Kemajuan
\n(Commander of Development). It convinced me I was an
\nentrepreneur.\"<\/p>\n
\"I became a doctor because it was my mother's wish. She said
\nshe had wanted me to become a doctor since I was a baby,\" he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
According to Sismadi, who sleeps less than six hours a night,
\nidealism is the most important factor in self-improvement.<\/p>\n
\"When I was a student I lived in Realino dormitory in
\nYogyakarta. The dormitory taught us about discipline, social
\ncare, tolerance and solidarity.<\/p>\n
\"There were frequent discussions teaching us to practice
\npolitics rationally, not emotionally. We also learned to respect
\nother people's opinions. These experiences colored my life,
\ncareer and management style,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Asked about his ambitions and plans for the future, Sismadi
\nsaid he wanted to continue serving the people.<\/p>\n
\"I want to create more employment and hire more people to
\nimprove the quality of lives of those around us through better
\nhealth, education and welfare. My next plan is to open a
\npolytechnic this year in my hometown of Jatinom.\"<\/p>\n
Sismadi said he did not give much thought to failure and,
\nsignificantly, did not have much regret over his life or career.<\/p>",
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"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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