IDI and Otsuka to help the needy

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)