Askes' service unsatisfactory

Askes' service unsatisfactory

From Pikiran Rakyat

My relative and his wife are both civil servants and holders of state health insurance scheme (Askes) cards. He is on the fourth wage scale and his wife is on the third.

His wife underwent medical treatment as an in-patient at Al- Islam hospital on Jl.Soekarno-Hatta, Bandung, from Aug. 15, 2001, to Aug. 20, 2001.

As members of Askes they at first hoped that the scheme would provide special assistance or services. However, the hospital provided a third-class ward for his wife as an Askes patient. As a result, they decided not to use Askes to move to a higher-class ward.

What is the fate of civil servants of the lower wage scales -- I and II -- if they fall ill and need to be hospitalized?. They may not be able to expect proper Askes services.

Another relative of mine once had to undergo surgery for gallstones, costing Rp 12 million. But he received only Rp 500,000 in compensation from Askes for the operation.

In recognition of the inappropriate Askes service, I hope that: * The central board of the Indonesian Civil Servant Corps is held responsible for poor treatment received by its members contrary to the provisions outlined in the agreement; * Management of the Askes scheme is entrusted to professionals for the sake of Askes members' welfare; * Askes is prevented from becoming a commodity; and * Askes provides aid for the sick, not the healthy.

A. DJALAL SAEFUDDIN

Majalengka, West Java