Medical fees to rise by up to 800%

TANGERANG: Tangerang General Hospital plans to increase its medical fees by between 100 percent and 800 percent due to the high operational costs.

"Medical fees in the hospital have not been increased since 1983. If we still apply the old rates, we cannot provide the same service under current conditions," deputy director of service at the hospital Dr. Bambang Wisnubroto told Tempo News Room on Monday.

He said the increase would take effect in March in stages. He added that the hospital would make public the increase.

The increase was endorsed in a bylaw on medical services by the Tangerang Regency Council early this month.

"What's the difference between a government and a private hospital if the increase is that big," complained Harsanah, 50, a resident of Cikupa district. Harsanah, a frequent patient at the hospital, said the medical fees were relatively cheap for her.

For Martina, 45, she asserted the increase was reasonable, provided the hospital management improved its service. -- JP