Free medical treatment for drivers

Free medical treatment for drivers

BOGOR (JP): The Bogor Health Agency and the Bogor's Land
Transport Owners Association (Organda) have reached an agreement
to provide free medical treatment to minivan drivers.

A. Chotib Malik, head of Organda's Bogor branch, said that
under the agreement, which was signed to mark the 33th National
Health Day yesterday, some 800 Organda members in the city would
be eligible for free medical services by next month at the
latest.

All minivan drivers holding health insurance cards from
Organda will be eligible for free medical treatment at local
community health centers, Chotib said. "All expenses will be
covered by Organda," he said.

"Even medical treatment at health centers, which costs only Rp
1,500 (45 U.S. cents), will be covered. It's important to drivers
whose income is small," he said.

The 800 eligible drivers are grouped and supervised by the
association, he said. They are part of about 4,000 drivers in
operation in the city.

Chotib urged other drivers who had not joined the association
to do so. "Joining the association would help improve their
welfare," he said.

Chotib explained that each Organda member was obliged to pay a
daily fee of Rp 300. "The funds collected from them will later be
used for the drivers' savings, to buy drivers' uniforms, to pay
accident insurance and to cover other organizational activities,"
he said.

Head of the Bogor Land Transportation Agency (DLLAJ) said the
provision of health services was part of the city
administration's efforts to help improve discipline among them.

"By making the service available to them, the drivers are
expected to support the city's discipline movement, especially in
driving," he said. (24/hhr)