RSCM pledges to boost its shattered image
JAKARTA (JP): Tough times lay ahead for the city's oldest hospital, Cipto Mangunkusumo, which celebrates its 78th anniversary tomorrow.
Better known by its local acronym, RSCM, the state-owned hospital has been the target of severe public criticism and is currently besieged by financial problems.
Director H.M. Ahmad Djojosugito admitted that the hospital's service was still poor but pledged to make improvements despite the fund shortages.
"This is the consequence of being a public service institution, especially the center of reference for other hospitals."
Ahmad said the hospital has an annual budget of Rp 47 billion (US$13.7 million), which includes paying for doctors and medical staff and putting aside about Rp 1.5 billion for the poor.
"Our annual earnings may only be between Rp 10 billion and Rp 17 billion."
Loss
On average, the hospital "loses" about Rp 5 million per day in prescriptions for medication and treatment of low-income patients, which comprise 85 percent of the total patients -- about 22,489 people per month -- he said.
The number of patients who left the hospital without paying their bills had jumped significantly this year, Ahmad said but refused to give further details.
"The number of patients evading payment here increased this year, adding another dimension to our problems."
Ahmad explained that RSCM must accept any patient who has been refused treatment by other hospitals for medical and economic reasons.
"Even if there's no room for the patients, we should accept them and, if necessary, give them first-aid treatment as soon as possible."
Located on a 11,810-square-meter plot of land, the four-story hospital has a total room space of 131,871 square meters to accommodate 1,300 beds.
There are 2,278 doctors and professors working at the hospital.
The public have frequently criticized RSCM for its poor management and undisciplined staff.
Critics say nobody queues and paying extra money is the only way patients can ensure better service.
Bribery
Ahmad admitted that some of the hospital's 6,026 staff had, at times, accepted bribes from patients or their relatives, who wanted to ensure they got better services.
"The collecting of bribes from patients mostly happened in the emergency unit," he said, adding that the perpetrators knew who to extort money from.
"The emergency unit patients or their relatives are the quickest to panic and they want immediate action, that's why they don't hesitate to accept any offer or promise at any price."
The hospital also has a bad image for its discriminatory treatment of better-off and less fortunate patients but Ahmad defended his staff's behavior.
"Some patients with limited education often find it difficult to fill in the administrative clearance forms and they ask the staff to complete them, which is not their job."
"I therefore can understand if my staff get upset if they have to face similar problems every day."
Ahmad said the presence of medical students at the hospital, which is also a training center, has fueled cynicism about the hospital's quality of service.
Trying to improve its image and service and looking for ways to improve funding are the goals of Ahmad and his staff during the hospital's anniversary year.
"It's not an easy job but we'll try," he said. (04)