Soeharto gives up title to hospitals<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Former president Soeharto handed over the
\nownership and management of Harapan Kita Child and Maternity
\nHospital, Harapan Kita Cardiac Hospital and Dharmais Cancer
\nHospital to the government yesterday.<\/p>\n
As chairman of the foundations which built and ran the three
\nfacilities in Jakarta, Soeharto only asked in return that the
\nfoundations' names, Harapan Kita and Dharmais, be retained for
\nthe institutions.<\/p>\n
\"We expect nothing more,\" Soeharto said.<\/p>\n
Minister of Health Farid A. Moeloek, representing the
\ngovernment, agreed to the terms.<\/p>\n
Making a rare public appearance since his May 21 resignation,
\nSoeharto also handed over Rp 75 billion in savings deposits owned
\nby the hospitals to Moeloek during the ceremony at his Jl.
\nCendana residence.<\/p>\n
Soeharto also promised the Dharmais foundation would continue
\nto finance the expansion of the cancer hospital.<\/p>\n
He was accompanied by executives of the two foundations,
\nincluding Mrs. Ibnu Sutowo, Mrs. Ali Murtopo, Mrs. Muhono and his
\neldest son, Sigit Harjojudanto.<\/p>\n
Soeharto said the hospitals were built with the sincere
\nintention of providing people with the necessary medical
\nfacilities.<\/p>\n
\"We've never entertained any negative thoughts,\" Soeharto said
\nin apparent response to criticism of the massive fortunes that
\nmany of his foundations amassed during his 32 years in power.<\/p>\n
Located on Jl. S. Parman, West Jakarta, the cancer hospital is
\nthe largest oncology treatment center in Southeast Asia and was
\nbuilt at a cost of Rp 110 billion in 1991. It began operations in
\n1993.<\/p>\n
The two Harapan Kita hospitals were established in 1979.<\/p>\n
Farid said the hospitals would also be developed into medical
\nresearch centers.<\/p>\n
\"Allow me, in the name of the government, to express my
\ngratitude to foundations which have turned over the ownership and
\nmanagement of the hospitals to the government,\" he said.<\/p>\n
He said the government would maintain the hospitals'
\nprofessional standards and improve their performance.<\/p>\n
Faried said he has set up an independent committee to study
\nways of maximizing the benefits of the hospitals to the public.<\/p>\n
\"The team is composed of hospital experts and medical
\nstudents. It does not include anyone from the Ministry of
\nHealth,\" he said. (rms)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/soeharto-gives-up-title-to-hospitals-1447893297",
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