DKI Jakarta Provides Free Cleft Lip Surgeries at Tebet and Cempaka Putih Regional Hospitals
The Jakarta Provincial Government is providing free cleft lip and palate surgeries at RSUD Tebet in South Jakarta and RSUD Cempaka Putih in Central Jakarta as part of the ‘Bakti Lima Abad Jakarta’ (Five Centuries of Jakarta) programme.
Ali Maulana Hakim, Assistant for People’s Welfare of the Jakarta Provincial Government, stated during a speech at RSUD Tebet on Wednesday that this programme has been running since last year. This current period is being implemented across two locations to mark the upcoming 500th anniversary of Jakarta.
The authorities selected Type C regional hospitals to ensure that quality healthcare services are brought closer to the community. Ali emphasised that high-quality medical services are not only available in Type A and B hospitals but are also accessible in Type C and D hospitals owned by the Jakarta Provincial Government, including community health centres (Puskesmas) and district hospitals.
While a primary requirement for patients is holding a Jakarta identity card (KTP), the Provincial Government is opening this opportunity widely to residents from outside Jakarta. Ali invited all families, relatives, or acquaintances with cleft lip conditions requiring plastic surgery to participate in the programme.
Following the procedure, which typically lasts between 30 minutes to one hour depending on complexity, patients are permitted to return home. If further follow-up care is required, patients will be referred to Cipto Mangunkusumo Hospital (RSCM).
Juliet Pieter, Director of RSUD Tebet, noted that while 30 patients initially registered, the number decreased following a screening process due to factors such as insufficient body weight, fever, or other medical conditions that necessitated postponing the surgery. As the programme is set to run for a year, Juliet stated that information will continue to be disseminated via social media and health services at the sub-district and district levels to ensure optimal reach. The Jakarta Provincial Government hopes that citizens will register for this free service, noting that the cost of undergoing such surgery privately can reach nearly Rp30 million.