After NTT Earthquake, Health Minister Confirms Komodo Regional Hospital as Referral Hospital
Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin visited Komodo Regional Hospital in Labuan Bajo, West Manggarai, East Nusa Tenggara, on Tuesday evening (18/8) to monitor the hospital’s readiness in treating victims of the earthquake in Flores, East Nusa Tenggara. The Ministry of Health has designated Komodo Regional Hospital as the referral hospital for earthquake victims from several affected areas.
As of Tuesday (18/8), there were seven inpatients who were referred earthquake victims from Manggarai and East Manggarai regencies. Budi said Komodo Regional Hospital plays an important role as a referral hospital, particularly for patients from the Manggarai and East Manggarai areas. Previously, patients from these regions were often referred to Ruteng Regional Hospital due to the lack of adequate facilities.
The Health Minister confirmed that the building condition of Komodo Regional Hospital remains fit for use. The Ministry of Health has coordinated with the Ministry of Public Works to inspect the structural condition of the hospital building following the earthquake. “I have asked the Public Works Minister to check, but the Public Works Minister told me, ‘Oh, there is nothing wrong, Sir. It is 100 percent usable,’” Budi said during his visit to Komodo Regional Hospital on Tuesday evening.
According to Budi, the inspection results showed almost no significant cracks in the hospital building. Although there were minor cracks, the condition was deemed not dangerous. He stressed that the assessment of building suitability is the authority of experts from the Ministry of Public Works. “The experts are not us; we are experts at fixing people, but when it comes to fixing buildings, it must be the Public Works people,” he said.
However, based on Media Indonesia’s observations on Tuesday (18/8), dozens of patients were still being treated in emergency tents located in the hospital area. Some other patients chose to occupy the lobby of Komodo Regional Hospital. Hospital management said patients still refused to be treated in the inpatient wards because they were traumatised after experiencing the earthquake tremors in NTT some time ago. They felt safer being in open areas or the hospital lobby.
The Health Minister asked patients not to worry about occupying the inpatient wards after the Ministry of Public Works confirmed that the Komodo Regional Hospital building is fit for use. “Later I will tell them to issue the letter so that patients can go inside, poor things. Rather than them being outside, it is not comfortable; they sleep outside,” Budi said.
Meanwhile, Ruteng Regional Hospital in Manggarai Regency and Borong Regional Hospital in East Manggarai Regency suffered damage due to the earthquake tremors. This condition makes Komodo Regional Hospital increasingly important as a referral hospital in handling victims of the Flores earthquake in NTT. The government continues to ensure that health facilities in affected areas can function optimally so that earthquake victims receive safe and adequate medical services.