Upscale hospitals are not for everybody's cup of tea<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Staying healthy is the wish of all of us, but
\nthere are inevitable times when we have to see a doctor or visit
\nthe hospital.<\/p>\n
Among its array of medical services, Jakarta boasts upscale
\nhospitals with luxury facilities and sophisticated medical
\nequipment.<\/p>\n
Their reputation and relatively high fees are not for
\neverybody. Several Jakartans shared their views on upscale
\nhospitals with The Jakarta Post.<\/p>\n
Yati Hariawan, 39, a housewife and mother of three: My family
\nalways goes to state-owned hospitals when one of us is ill.
\nMostly, we go to the Cipto Mangunkusumo General Hospital because
\nI think it's relatively cheaper.<\/p>\n
It never crosses my mind to go to private hospitals,
\nespecially upscale ones. I just can't afford it. I'm afraid that
\nwhat happened to one of my relatives will happen to me. My sister
\nonce had to pay almost Rp 1 million when her son was treated in a
\nprivate hospital after a small accident. At that time, her son
\ndid not even spend the night there.<\/p>\n
Marlene Frans, spokeswoman of the Netherlands Tourism Board:
\nI used to go to the MMC Hospital in Kuningan, South Jakarta, when
\nI was ill, availing myself of the facilities provided by the oil
\ncompany where my father worked.<\/p>\n
After getting a job, I moved to another hospital where my
\ncompany was registered for medical treatment. But, I also often
\ngo to clinics.<\/p>\n
I don't care much about the luxuriousness of hospitals. The
\nmost important thing for me is that they are clean and have good
\nreputations. Above all, I (should) feel OK with the doctor. Once
\nI feel OK with a doctor, I will keep engaging him for medical
\ntreatment.<\/p>\n
Upscale hospitals are not (necessarily) identical with good
\nservice. I know from friends that some upscale hospitals seek to
\nincrease their income by improper means, including giving
\nunnecessary medical treatment.<\/p>\n
They are only for affluent people, who make up only a small
\npercentage of the population. There are not needed by the
\nmajority of the people who currently live in misery and poverty.<\/p>\n
Idang Rasyidi, 42, musician: Just like their high-profile
\nstatus, upscale hospitals should possess high standards of
\nmedical treatment and services. They should be supported by
\nqualified human resources, encompassing doctors, nurses and,
\ncertainly, their management.<\/p>\n
If such hospitals dare to charge expensive fees to their
\npatients, they have to be dare to compete in quality, too, in
\nterms of medical treatments and services.<\/p>\n
But the most significant thing is the system, how they manage
\nto have a good system to give the best to the patients.<\/p>\n
I have heard that upscale hospitals also serve the needy, but
\nI don't have any ideas about what happens in reality. Let's look
\nat the facts, that there are hospitals which still ignore their
\npatients. There are sick people who need immediate help but are
\nneglected if they cannot afford to pay.<\/p>\n
But it's also a matter of morality. Upscale hospitals should
\nbe able to help people regardless of their backgrounds.<\/p>\n
I don't have anything against upscale hospitals. If I needed
\nit, I would not hesitate to seek good medical treatment there.<\/p>\n
Netty B. Rianto, owner of a medical clinic and former
\nchairwoman of the Association of Indonesian Businesswomen:
\nUpscale hospitals are an alternative to seek better medical
\ntreatment. I think we do have better hospitals now and there is
\nno need for the haves to go abroad for medical treatment.<\/p>\n
For me, it does not matter where you see the doctors, whether
\nin an upscale hospital or in any hospital, as long as they can
\ncure the illness.<\/p>\n
I know that upscale hospitals serve the needy and I agree that
\nthe government should support them.<\/p>\n
But in my opinion, hospitals should not turn themselves into
\nprofiteers, they should also prioritize their social roles.<\/p>\n
I apply this principle in my clinic.<\/p>\n
Sukri, 32, a fried rice vendor and father of one: Don't ask me
\nabout going to upscale private hospitals, it's already hard to
\nearn a living these days. How can I afford unnecessary expenses
\nlike going to expensive hospitals? For my family, it's always the
\ncommunity health center.<\/p>\n
Fortunately, my wife and my child have not fallen sick lately,
\nonly small things like cold and fever. Most of the time, I just
\nbuy drugs in nearby drugstores and it is cured.<\/p>\n
The last time I went to a hospital was when my wife gave birth
\nto our son three years ago.<\/p>\n
I don't know that upscale hospitals offer medical services to
\npeople like me. But I don't want to try. Even though it's true, I
\nthink it will charge me lots of money for this and that, and I
\nthink I will not have the money for it.<\/p>\n
Muchsin, 40, a government employee: Upscale hospitals enrich
\nthe (range of) the country's medical treatment. But if they
\nconsider themselves as public hospitals, they should be more
\n"public-oriented". If they charge too much, only certain people
\ncan afford them.<\/p>\n
They should not operate solely to rake in profits. People come
\nto hospitals to get help, so, help them right away, no matter who
\nthey are.<\/p>\n
I don't know if upscale hospitals also serve the needy. I
\nthink they only care for those who come in with status and money.
\nBut it's a good thing if they truly help the poor. It's about
\ntime.<\/p>\n
But if I'm sick, I don't know whether I will go to upscale
\nhospitals or not. It's already gives me a headache thinking about
\nhow I am going to pay the bill.<\/p>\n
Intansari Abdams, an employee of the Jakarta Stock Exchange: I
\nknow that some upscale hospitals like (Siloam) Gleneagles in
\nTangerang and MMC in Kuningan provide services to the needy as
\npart of their social mission. But I do not know the percentage
\nand the quality of their services to the lower-income people.<\/p>\n
If I seeks treatment from a hospital, I have to really know
\nthe doctors who will treat me. That's the most important thing.
\nJust like when I gave birth several months ago, I went to a small
\nclinic close to my house because I knew a doctor who took care of
\nme during the pregnancy.<\/p>\n
Soetomo S., 62, an accountant: An upscale private hospital did
\nlittle help in treating my wife, Ann. She was suffering from
\npartial paralysis on her right side.<\/p>\n
At the time, I took my wife to the Pondok Indah Hospital but,
\nafter one month's treatment, I didn't see any improvement. I then
\ntook her to Australia and she improved.<\/p>\n
Now, I will consult with specialists ... but I have not
\ndecided whether I will take my wife to another private hospital.<\/p>\n
Atmawati, 40, an employee at the state-owned telecommunication
\ncompany: Once I took my 79-year-old mother suffering from labored
\nbreathing to the Harapan Kita Hospital after being referred by
\nspecialist.<\/p>\n
But my mother did not receive good treatment and the illness
\ngot worse.<\/p>\n
I decided to take her to a private hospital, the Jakarta
\nHospital, which gave better treatment to my mother. (01\/ste\/aly\/jsk\/lnt)<\/p>",
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