People against rise in 'Puskesmas' fees

People against rise in 'Puskesmas' fees

JAKARTA (JP): A number of people have objected to the city
administration's plan to raise health service fees at community
health centers, locally known as Puskesmas, throughout the
capital.

The City Health Office announced on Wednesday that it had
proposed to the city administration that the fee for health
services at Puskesmas be raised from Rp 300 to Rp 900 per
patient.

Several patients interviewed by Antara at the community health
center in Johar sub-district, Central Jakarta, considered the
planned increase too high.

"Many patients cannot even afford the current fee of Rp 300,"
said Soman, 20, one of the patients.

Another patient, Asril, 25, said that most people visiting
community health centers are poor people who cannot otherwise
afford to see a doctor.

Head of the Johar Puskesmas Dr. Dien readily admitted that if
the planned hike is implemented it will be overly burdensome for
the patients.

"From an average of 80 people coming to the center for medical
treatment every day, 60 of them are poor people," he said.

Spokesman for the City Health Office, Soesilo Darmoaji, said
the proposed increase was made because of price rises in medical
equipment and other facilities. (bas)