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)