People ask for cheap medical bills

TANGERANG (JP): The local regency's Social Services Office receives three to five people a day who ask for letters recommending they be given discounts on medical treatment.

The office's chief, Teddy Djarkasih, said on Friday that the letters, however, only explain that the bearers come from poor families and suggest the hospitals give a reduction on a patient's medical bills.

The decision is then totally up to the hospitals' management, he said.

Between April last year and March, his office issued at least 153 letters in an effort to help needy families cope with the prolonged economic crisis and the skyrocketing costs of medical treatment, Teddy said.

He estimated that the number of applicants would reach 240 by the end of this year.

The recommendation letters are addressed to state-owned hospitals, including Cipto Mangunkusumo General Hospital, Harapan Kita Hospital, Fatmawati Hospital and Gatot Subroto Army Hospital. (41/jun)