New health plan for the poor to be launched
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)