City vows to pay for victims's treatment

City vows to pay for victims's treatment

The city administration will cover all medical expenses for the
treatment of the victims of the bomb blast that occurred on
Thursday in front of the Australian Embassy on Jl. Rasuna Said,
Kuningan, South Jakarta.

"The cost of the medical treatment of the bomb victims,
without exception, will be covered by the administration through
the City Health Agency," City Hall spokesman Muhayat told
reporters on Friday.

He said the agency had allocated Rp 20 billion (US$2.16
million) to cover the cost.

"Those who have already paid their medical bills could ask the
agency for reimbursement," he said.

Several victims have reportedly paid their bills, including
the family of the late Rina Dewi Puspita, a student of Perbanas
banking school. They had paid Rp 110,000 for the ambulance fee at
the Cipto Mangunkusumo General Hospital morgue.

Muhayat said the administration would also use other sources,
including the health safety net fund for poor families (JPK
Gakin) to help cover the expenses, especially for poor victims.

Minister of Health Achmad Suyudi and Governor Sutiyoso told
all hospitals in the city on Thursday to admit bomb victims and
treat them for free, promising that the government would cover
the expenses. Unfortunately, most of hospitals were not informed
about the instruction, so they still charged the victims.

As of Friday, 37 bombing victims were still being treated at
several hospitals.

Aside from the free medical treatment, the administration
would also donate Rp 2 million to the families of those killed in
the blast.

The United States government, through its Agency for
International Development (USAID), has also provided US$50,000 to
help support the operations of the Indonesian Red Cross (PMI).
The PMI is in charge of mobilizing ambulances to transport
victims, providing medicine and blood to victims and hospitals.
-- JP