Seminar urges new approach to health

MEDAN, North Sumatra: An estimated Rp 559 billion in losses is incurred annually by people in the province due to illness.

The losses are calculated by the total amount of money spent on medicine and productive days lost due to illness.

The World Bank consultant for health issues in Indonesia, Ascobat Gani, said in a seminar here on Monday the provincial government needed to enhance its approach to health and focus more on ensuring people do not become ill.

"All activities which inhibit health are a violation of human rights," he said as quoted by Antara news agency.

The seminar was held on Monday as a follow-up to the local administration's political commitment to allocate 15 percent of local revenue to health development.