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