Rp 1b medical bill left unpaid

SEMARANG, Central Java: Over Rp 1 billion (US$350,800) in medical bills are left unpaid each year by patients of the Dokter Kariadi hospital.

The hospital's director, Dr Sulaeman, said patients sometimes neglected to pay their bills.

"The hospital has actually tried to collect the money and has approached them up to three times, but there seems to be no result," he said as quoted by Antara.

To cover the outstanding bills the hospital has built a first- class wing. The Rp 150,000 cost for room per night in this wing helps cover the cost of the third-class wing, which according to Sulaeman always incurs losses.