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.