Habibie walks down memory lane as he tours RSCM
JAKARTA (JP): President B.J. Habibie toured Cipto Mangunkusumo General Hospital in Central Jakarta yesterday, in what he described as a trip down memory lane since his wife, Hasri Ainun Besari, had worked here when he met her in 1962.
"This hospital plays a role as a center of excellence," said Habibie as he walked down the aisles of the 78-year-old hospital.
"I also have very sweet memories of this place because I often met with my former fiancee here."
His wife, a pediatrician, worked at the hospital in 1962 when a young Habibie returned from Germany because his mother had asked him to marry soon.
"This hospital had a great contribution for my marriage," a cheerful Habibie told journalists. His wife, accompanying him on the tour, just smiled.
During the visit, Habibie chatted with doctors, nurses and patients, posing a wide range of questions from their salaries to the treatment received at the hospital.
The President said the hospital played a key role in the health sector, especially for low-income people, and he promised to find the institution more financial resources since it had been severely affected by the economic turmoil.
Cipto Mangunkusumo Hospital (RSCM), the oldest state health institution in the country, still serves as the primary medical facility for many Jakartans, dealing with a staggering 12,000 patients each day.
RSCM has 1,305 beds and employs nearly 1,000 doctors, 90 dentists and 760 specialists. They are backed up by a medical support staff of more than 1,800 and 2,000 nonmedical employees.
While meeting with patients, Habibie came across Ukar Sukary, a kidney patient.
"Maybe you ate too much jengkol (a kind of bean notorious for its smell)," Habibie told the surprised patient.
It was unclear why Habibie made such a prognosis, but the bewildered Ukar merely nodded.
Poor
Hospital administrator Dr. Ahmad Djojosugito told the President that prices for medicine and health equipment had increased up to 200 percent since July but that it was difficult to raise hospital fees since many patients had limited financial resources.
"Most of our patients are poor people," Ahmad noted.
Ahmad said it would be helpful if the government allowed the hospital to build better facilities to lure affluent people to be treated there.
"The profits could be used to subsidize the bills of poorer people, much like we've done with the Cendrawasih Pavilion," Ahmad said.
Habibie agreed, and also advised Ahmad to boost the promotion of generic drugs because they were much cheaper than brand drugs.
"We must convince people that generic drugs are very healthy and effective although they may not be as prestigious," said the President.
Habibie later promised he would try to help the hospital but refused to indicate any specific plans, saying he would talk to other officials first. (prb/ivy)