Health levies to be raised by 87%

Health levies to be raised by 87%

JAKARTA (JP): The city administration will raise health levies
by an average of 87 percent in a bid to help cover skyrocketing
costs of medicine, operations and laboratory machine maintenance.

Head of the city health agency Aslan Lasman, said the rise was
intended mainly to reduce the 100 percent to 200 percent increase
in medicine costs.

He said calculation of the increase had been discussed with
city councilors and representatives of the Indonesian Consumers
Foundation.

Levies collected from the health sector include the city's
community health centers (Puskesmas), the city's four public
hospitals, ambulance services and expensive laboratory machines
and tests to check for narcotic use.

In line with the increase, examination fees at community
health centers would be raised 100 percent from Rp 1,000 to Rp
2,000.

"However, the increase will not be imposed on families living
below the poverty line in the capital. Those who already have
health cards will continue to receive free treatment," Aslan told
The Jakarta Post.

Fees for a tooth check up at Puskesmas from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.
will be set at Rp 7,500; tooth removal, tooth fillings, cleaning
of fillings and tooth nerve treatment will be set at Rp 3,000
each. Check ups at mother and child care centers will be set at
Rp 2,000.

Aslan said the city's four city-run hospitals for the poor --
Budi Asih Hospital, Koja Hospital, Pasar Rebo Hospital and
Tarakan Hospital -- received Rp 1.5 billion from the city budget
in January for operational and maintenance costs. (ylt)