More shocking medical abuse cases revealed, law needed
Leony Aurora, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
The government needs to make and implement new regulations to clearly specify the obligations and rights of hospitals regarding the treatment for the poor, the Jakarta Metropolitan Hospital Association (Irsjam) said on Wednesday.
Irsjam Chairman Adib Yahya stated during a press conference at the Gatot Subroto Army Hospital in Central Jakarta, that the Indonesian Hospital Association (Persi), of which Irsjam is part, had repeatedly suggested that the Ministry of Health make such a law in 1999.
"So that there will be no more negative coverage in the media if a hospital rejects a patient," he told members of the media.
"The law will have the last word," Adib added.
Recently, the public was shocked when Sumaryono, a man who lives on the banks of the West Flood Canal, was sent home from the hospital with his innards protruding from his abdomen, because he could not pay enough money. He claimed he was denied treatment at the city-owned Tarakan hospital and state-owned Cipto Mangunkusumo Hospital (RSCM), both in Central Jakarta.
However, the heads of both hospitals, who attended the press conference, said that they had followed standard procedures and it was Sumaryono who did not return for further treatment after a few control visits.
"We take poor patients regularly," said Soekirman Soekin, director of Tarakan hospital.
"If our funds are low, we can ask for more from the governor, no problem," he emphasized.
RSCM Director Akmal Taher also hinted that "We have no reason not to take poor patients."
As of November, hospitals in Jakarta had utilized only half of the Rp 70 billion (US$8.24 million) fuel subsidy for the poor, said Akmal. The fund is provided for free medical treatment for the poor.
On the national level, people holding poor family (Gakin) cards are eligible for free treatment at any community health clinic and hospitals. As such cards are only available for holders of Jakarta ID cards, the needy without IDs supposedly can get free treatment by getting reference letters from their neighborhood unit (RT) chief or the health agency officially confirming their poverty.
In reality, however, the situation is not always as simple as that. Complicated procedures to obtain the subsidy funds, discourage hospitals from treating the poor although Governor Sutiyoso has repeatedly claimed that the procedure is very simple and transparent.
Iskandar Sitorus of Legal Aid Institute for Health (LBH Kesehatan) said on Wednesday that a one-year-old baby girl, was being held "hostage" at the state-owned Persahabatan Hospital in East Jakarta since August because the family could not afford to pay the fees for treatment for a spinal problem, although they had submitted a poverty letter from the North Jakarta health agency.
Another child, Aji Ramadhan, 3, was recently denied an operation to remove cancerous tissue at Dharmais hospital in West Jakarta although a poverty letter had been provided, he said.
The hospital management at Dharmais could not be reached for a comment.