Major upgrade may restore state hospital's reputation
Major upgrade may restore state hospital's reputation
Bambang Nurbianto, The Jakarta Post/Jakarta
The management of Cipto Mangunkusumo General Hospital (RSCM) on
Jl. Diponegoro in Central Jakarta announced on Wednesday a major
project to bring the hospital up to international standards.
The upgrade is a belated present for the hospital's 85th
anniversary on Nov. 19.
"We began preparing the plan in 1996 but had to delay it
during the economic crisis. We expect the construction to start
next year and to be completed within two years," the hospital's
president director, Merdias Almatsier, said.
When completed, the hospital will feature a modern public
wing, international wing, children's wing and eye center.
Merdias said the public wing would be the main building of the
hospital and would have 900 beds designated for poor patients.
Construction is expected to cost about Rp 160 billion
(US$17.78 million), with the money to come from foreign loans
secured by the government, he said.
Merdias said the hospital management was still seeking
partners able to provide quality facilities and services in the
international wing.
"We hope our services here will attract foreign patients," he
said, adding that four private companies had expressed an
interest to acting as partners in the venture.
The children's wing and the eye center will constitute the
last phase of the project, Merdias said.
RSCM currently has 1,214 beds, consisting of 733 third-class
beds, 295 second-class, 46 first-class and 140 VVIP beds.
Formerly known as the Central Civil Hospital, RSCM was built
in 1919 by the Dutch colonial administration. Until 1922 the
hospital provided free health care for indigenous citizens and
paid women to deliver their babies at the hospital in a drive to
improve public health.
The hospital's name was changed in 1964 in honor of the
nationalist medical doctor Tjipto Mangunkusumo, who dedicated his
life to serving the poor.
Financial constraints and poor maintenance have harmed the
reputation of what once the finest hospital in the country.
"With the new wings, RSCM will not look as 'pale' as it does
now. We have to improve our services," RSCM head of human
resources Meliana Zailani said.