Health ministry gets funds to give the needy health care

JAKARTA (JP): The National Development Planning Board (Bappenas) will provide Rp 1.05 trillion to the Ministry of Health to improve health care to the needy during the crisis.

"The additional fund aims to assist health services for the poor," ministry secretary-general E. Sutarto said on Wednesday.

Sutarto said the state budget's health allocation was Rp 600 billion, of which 65 percent was earmarked for basic services such as ensuring nutrition, immunization and maternity care.

The International Labor Organization predicted Tuesday that the economic crisis could lead to 95.8 million people -- about 48 percent of the total population of 202 million -- living below the poverty line by year's end.

ILO's defines the poverty line in daily calorie consumption as 2,200 calories. It measures it in daily earnings of 55 U.S. cents in urban areas, or 40 U.S. cents in rural areas.

Describing the magnitude of problems in health care services, Sutarto cited government figures estimating 135 million poor by the beginning of next year.

He said some people were already unable to afford proper health care because prices of patent medicines, most of which have imported ingredients, had soared in the crisis.

"I am worried that people will resort to low-quality health services."

He added that the government provided Rp 700 billion to subsidize generic drugs and added that physicians should consider their patients reduced purchasing power.

"I suggest doctors give the right prescription with the proper dosage to avoid unnecessary costs."

Sutarto was speaking during a function held with The Australian Council on Health Care Standards, which plans to help improve health care in the country.

The council's chief executive office, Denis Smith, said one way to improve services was to standardize hospitals and clinics to gain accreditation.

Sutarto said a means to maintain services could be to conduct "policy reform". Even before the crisis hit in July last year, costs of medical services and drugs were considered high. (01)