New health plan for the poor to be launched
JAKARTA (JP): The government will launch a new health program for the poor on Nov. 12, National Health Day, when it distributes five million cards that will allow access to free health services.
An assistant to the Coordinating Minister for Public Welfare, Hernowo Hadiwonggo, told reporters after a meeting of ministers and top officials under the direction of the Coordinating Minister for People's Welfare Azwar Anas that the five million health cards, weighing a total of four tons, would be given to poor people throughout the country.
The meeting was attended by the ministers of health, social services, women's roles, the environment, education and culture, population, youth affairs and sports, as well as representatives of the ministers of religious affairs, home affairs and the coordinating minister of political affairs and security.
Under the new health plan, cardholders and their dependents will be entitled to free medical services and medicine from all community health centers and state-owned hospitals.
Hadiwonggo said this year's National Health Day will also be marked with the inauguration of Haj Hospital in Pondok Gede, East Jakarta, by President Soeharto, and the launching of a campaign on clean and healthy living under what is called the Clean Friday program. Not only government offices, but schools and private companies are expected to take part in the campaign.
Aging
Yesterday's meeting also discussed the setting-up of a National Committee for Aging People by the Minister of Social Services Endang Kusuma Inten Suweno.
"We need aging people for their wisdom ... We need to involve them in our development programs," Hadiwonggo said.
Citing the Guidelines of State Policy (GBHN), he said that "aging people are assets".
The younger generation can learn a lot from their experiences and wisdom, he said, adding that most people who took part in the struggle for Indonesia's independence 49 years ago are over 60 years of age now.
"The city administration has issued special ID cards for people over 60 years old, that are valid for the rest of their life. The national committee will also see what other things can be done for these senior citizens," he said.
Hadiwonggo also said that the government does not yet have any intention of reviewing the retirement age for civil servants.
Most civil servants retire at the age of 55. Top Echelon I officials and cabinet ministers retire at the age of 60, but they can hold positions for five additional years if their services are still needed.
The issue of the Menwa student regiment was also raised during the meeting, following the recent bloody clash between regiment members and fellow students from the Association of Nature Lovers at the National University here. The clash left the university's regiment command post in ashes and several students seriously injured.
Hadiwonggo dismissed the idea of banning the regiment as it was established as a means for military training for the defense of the state. However, he added, it would be necessary to review the methods of military training for the defense of the state.
The idea of reviewing the methods was raised in the previous coordinating meeting, about two weeks before the clash took place. (sim)