President launches health program

President launches health program

JAKARTA (JP): President Abdurrahman Wahid launched on Tuesday
a nationwide health program calling on people to raise their
awareness of health.

Speaking in the ceremony which marked the national drive at
National Monument (Monas) square in Central Jakarta, the
President said a healthy life was an inseparable part of human
life and one of the basic human rights.

"Health is the source of prosperity. What good is wealth if
people are unhealthy?," the President said.

Therefore, he said, the government, especially the Ministry of
Health, has to help people pay more attention to their health and
appreciate those involved in health services.

The ceremony was the highlight of a series of activities held
in observance of the 36th anniversary of National Health Day,
which falls on Nov. 12.

An 80 meter by six meter banner bearing the campaign's motto
"Indonesia: Healthy by 2010, Health is a Basic Human Right" was
unveiled by four mountain climbers.

"It marked the first step of the national health program,"
said Minister of Health Achmad Sujudi, on the sidelines of the
ceremony.

The commemoration, Achmad said, is aimed at promoting better
health as people's awareness of health in the country remains
poor.

He added the focus of the program is to give better health
services to people and to increase people's role in health
services.

"We will also focus on building a partnership as well as
better ties between patients, the government and health care
professionals," he said.

Until now, he explained, most doctors have been used to
"playing God" and playing a leading role in regard to their
patients.

The situation, he stressed, must be changed as doctors and
patients are partners.

According to Achmad, the bill on the public health service
network (JPKM), which deals with the health care insurance and
funding system, would be endorsed soon.

"Hopefully next year it will take effect," he said.

The bill obliges people to contribute about 3 to 5 percent of
their income for their own health care coverage. (hdn)