Hospital lacks specialists

Hospital lacks specialists

KENDARI, Southeast Sulawesi: People suffering from heart,
neurological, urinary and pathology-related problems here often
have to journey to the South Sulawesi provincial capital of
Ujungpandang or Jakarta for the most up-to-date medical
treatment.

Head of the provincial health office Takahasi Rahmani told
Antara on Monday that the local hospital for years lacked doctors
specialized in the four fields.

"We have repeatedly asked the government to send those kinds
of specialists. We have also encouraged public doctors to obtain
specialist diplomas, but only a few have succeeded," Takahasi
said.

The hospital employs 12 specialists, including internists,
gynecologists, dentists and pediatricians. The province's other
state-owned hospitals have an average three specialists each,
according to Takahasi.

The provincial administration has increased its annual budget
allotted for the hospital to Rp 350 million (around US$40,500) in
this fiscal year in a bid to have its rating improved. Many
people have complained about poor services provided by the
hospital, Antara reported.