RSCM refuses to treat patient

JAKARTA (JP): City councillor Yusuf A.R. deplored the conduct of the Cipto Mangunkusumo General Hospital (RSCM) on Thursday for refusing to conduct eye surgery on a former councillor because the patient could not afford the down payment.

Yusuf said the hospital insisted that the surgery on 77-year- old H.B.S. Amin, a member of the City Council for 1970s period, was not possible despite Yusuf's guarantee of payment.

The hospital required Amin, a resident of Kebon Manggis, Matraman, East Jakarta, to pay Rp 1.6 million (US$163) as a down payment for his cataract surgery, according to Yusuf, a member of the City Council's Commission E for social welfare affairs.

Amin, who was scheduled to undergo the surgery on Tuesday, was then transferred to city-run Pasar Rebo hospital, in East Jakarta.

The surgery was conducted on Thursday. (jun/04)