Public complains over high Puskesmas fees

Public complains over high Puskesmas fees

KENDARI, Southeast Sulawesi: People in Kendari, Southeast Sulawesi, complained on Monday about the high fees being charged by local public health centers (Puskesmas).

Nurlela, a resident of Lepo-lepo district, said that besides paying for medicines and the doctor's fee, she had to pay at least Rp 500 for the renewal of her health card, Rp 1,000 for a daily ticket, and Rp 500 as a Puskesmas service charge.

"Previously we only paid for the medicine. But, now we have to pay for everything, including the vaccines. We can only get free injections for vitamin A and polio," she said, adding that the quality of service remained poor.

The new charges have forced most residents to turn to midwives or health workers for medical services as they charged only for medicines.

The local administration's spokesman, Arifin Baidi, said that all the fees imposed by Puskesmas, health clinics or other state and privately run health facilities were in accordance with local bylaws.

"The charges are in accordance with Bylaw No. 4/1998 on health services, which stipulates the rates," he said, adding that the fees were necessary to augment the local government's revenues and cover the facilities' operating costs. --Antara