New health scheme for poor

New health scheme for poor

Various efforts have been made by the government to help destitute families access health services. Public health centers, which provide cheap services and affordable medicines, have been made available in most parts of the archipelago.

Recently the government issued a 'free card' for poor families. Deprived people with the card get health treatment or services for free. Unfortunately, not all people have been informed about the new scheme. Worse, there are allegations that many 'free cards' are owned by well-off people or families.

Reports made by a North Jakarta hospital belonging to the Jakarta Administration said that poor families coming to the hospital were not aware of the new health scheme.

The government should take prompt action to tally the correct number of poor people and distribute the cards to the right people.

The "free card" case is just one of the government's failures to increase public awareness about the scheme. Information made available by newspapers, radios or televisions has proven inadequate.

-- Warta Kota, Jakarta