Herculean task of health minister

Herculean task of health minister

From Koran Tempo

In her swearing-in ceremony on Oct. 21, Health Minister Siti
Fadilah Supari expressed her commitment to ensuring that under
her leadership the health ministry would be corruption-free,
disciplined and hard-working.

One of the serious problems afflicting the health sector is
drug mismanagement, which is reflected in such things ranging
from the absence of quality standards and the prohibitive prices
of drugs to dispensaries failing to observe standing regulations.

It should be the immediate task of the health ministry to
control drug manufacturers, major drug vendors and physicians
that collude with suppliers and make patients spend more money on
drugs unnecessarily.

Not to be neglected is, of course, an improved system of
health insurance. The services health insurance company PT Askes
provides do not meet people's expectations.

BENNY ARIO WIDJAYANTO

Pare, East Java