Health center fees to double

Health center fees to double

Multa Firdaus, The Jakarta Post, Tangerang

The Tangerang administration is seeking to double medical fees at
public health centers (Puskesmas) in the regency from Rp 2,000 to
Rp 4,000.

Tangerang Regent Ismet Iskandar said when submitting revisions
to 13 bylaws, including Bylaw No 1/2001 on health, to the regency
council on Monday that the decision to increase health fees was
final and would cause no extra burden to the public.

"We will provide USG, EKG facilities and specialists at each
Puskesmas," said Ismet.

The increase, however, will take place only if the council
endorses the plan by revising the bylaw on health.

The head of the Tangerang Health Agency, Bachtiar Oesman, said
any increase in health costs would be accompanied by improved
services at each Puskesmas.

"The increase has taken into account residents' needs and
medicine prices. Health is expensive," he told The Jakarta Post.

He said health was one of main priorities in the regency's
development program this year.

The regency has 10 hospitals and 40 Puskesmas in 26 districts
to serve some 3.4 million residents. Currently, only five
Puskesmas have facilities to serve patients who need to stay
overnight for care.

"After the increase, the 35 other Puskesmas will also provide
services and accommodate patients who need to stay overnight for
medical treatment," he said.

Nurjamil, a resident of Pondok Ranji village who takes his
family for to a Puskesmas in Ciputat for care, said the fee
increase would burden many residents.

"As poor people, we cannot afford to go to hospitals for
better health care. The Puskesmas is the only choice because the
treatment fees and medicine prices are still affordable," he
said.

Azwinnur, a resident of Pondok Kacang village, Pondok Aren
district, said despite the increase, he expected services at the
district Puskesmas to remain as poor as ever.

"I prefer to take my family to the Pesangrahan Puskesmas owned
by the Jakarta city administration because it has complete
facilities and good doctors," he told the Post.