Megawati says health services for public unsatisfactory
Megawati says health services for public unsatisfactory
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
President Megawati Soekarnoputri complained about health services
for the public which she said remained unsatisfactory due to the
heavy workload of physicians.
"Most of the IDI members are extraordinarily busy as they have
to work in several hospitals, not to mention their jobs at health
clinics and private medical service," Megawati said while opening
the 26th congress of the Indonesian Doctors Association (IDI) at
the State Palace on Friday.
The President, however, gave limited praise to the doctors for
their social and humanitarian functions, while underscoring their
"limited capability".
"But to be fair we already know that due to doctors' limited
capability, health services have become less focused and
ineffective," she said as quoted by Antara.
In some places patients have to wait in line from early in the
morning until the evening for service, Megawati said.
"This is, of course, inhuman both for the patients and
doctors." she added.
Megawati admitted that the problems facing the country
regarding health services was related to a lack of physicians,
which has prompted anyone who can afford it to turn to medical
services overseas.
Each general practitioner is statistically responsible for
7,000 people in Indonesia, a ratio which is extremely far below
international standards. A specialist, meanwhile, is responsible
for nearly 24,000 people in the country.
The IDI congress will take place in Balikpapan, a major city
in East Kalimantan, between Oct. 7 and Oct. 11. During the
congress, the IDI will formally inaugurate Farid Anfasa Moeloek,
a former health minister, as the new chairperson replacing Ahmad
Djojosugito.
Megawati said despite the government's plan to increase the
price of generic medicine, quality health services cannot be
compromised.
The IDI has suggested that the government provide subsidies
for poor people -- current data indicates that over 18 million
live in "extreme poverty" -- who will be affected the most by the
hike in generic medicines.
Outgoing IDI chairman Djojosugito has said the association
could understand the increase based on the production cost
calculation.
"In the past, the government gave the generic drug
manufacturers subsidies to cover the minimum production cost. Now
that subsidies have been reduced, producers are facing
difficulties in running their businesses," Djojosugito told The
Jakarta Post recently.
The Ministry of Health announced recently the increase of
generic drug prices by between 2.33 percent and 50.62 percent.