IDI and Otsuka to help the needy

JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian Medical Association (IDI) reached an agreement with pharmaceutical firm PT Otsuka Indonesia on Friday to hold a Rp 250 million (US$33,333) program to help poor people who are severely affected by the economic crisis.

IDI's chairman, Merdias Almatsier, said the program would include the provision of free medical services and iron tablets for pregnant women and nursing mothers and staple food donations.

"We hope we can help at least 10,000 people in 17 cities throughout the country," he said after signing the cooperation agreement with the pharmaceutical firm.

He said the program, which was also intended to commemorate the association's 48th anniversary, will start in Paseban subdistrict, Central Jakarta, on Thursday.

He said PT Otsuka would be in charge of providing the funding, while the association would allocate doctors for the program in cities where the firm's branches were located.

Otsuka's president Kiyoshi Fukai said that the firm, which had been operating in Indonesia for 23 years, felt obliged to help the needy during the crisis.

"Even though it's small, we hope our contribution can help people amid the skyrocketing prices of food and medicines," Fukai said. (jun)