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