Sismadi helps the poor, creates employment

By I. Christianto

Human expectations of hospitals changes from time to time. Centuries ago, hospitals were seen as inseparable from death. Hospitals were the place where ailing pilgrims sought refuge and the care of nuns, as well as preparation to face death. The sick were called "patients" because of their patience in suffering illness.

Gradually, perceptions of hospitals changed. Hospitals began to be seen as a place where people sought life, not death. They became a place that not only saved life but improved its quality, a concept Sismadi Partodimulyo strives to follow.

JAKARTA (JP): For surgeon Sismadi Partodimulyo, running several hospitals and helping low-income patients get well is a blessing.

He started his business at home in the Tanjung Priok area of North Jakarta in 1972. He now controls a number of hospitals, health centers and optical centers. He also runs a medicine equipment business.

He is currently the only person wholly controlling a private hospital in Indonesia.

Sismadi was born in Jatinom, a small town near Surakarta, Central Java, on Aug. 19, 1930. He graduated from the medical school of state-owned Gadjah Mada University in Yogyakarta.

Married to Zainah in 1959, Sismadi has three daughters and two sons, all of whom studied medicine in spite of his wish they pursue different professions.

Among the hospitals he owns are Sukmul, Harum, Sunter Medical Center, and Remedika Bintaro Clinic. He has three pharmacies and five optical centers in various parts of Jakarta.

He controls the Harum Medical School and Sismadi Nursing Academy and has a number of other health-related companies, including a medical equipment supplier and a company selling waste water treatment equipment.

Sismadi chose the health sector for several reasons; one was the country's political situation under president Sukarno's Old Order government. He describes this period as "uncertain".

"Indonesia's economic rating reached its lowest ever, unemployment was high, as was the dropout rate ... everybody felt insecure," he said.

"Many friends of mine -- also ethnic Chinese -- were looking for work when I was already a physician. I hired them to assist me in my practice at home, but the number of people seeking jobs became too great."

Sismadi became surgeon at the University of Indonesia in Jakarta in 1971, a time when even medical specialists found it hard to find employment.

"I wondered then, 'Why don't I establish my own hospital?'". This thought gave birth to the establishment of his first health clinic in 1972 in Tanjung Priok, North Jakarta, which was also the country's first community health center (Puskesmas).

The clinic, named Sukmul, became a hospital in 1980 and is now a modern medical facility.

"Our patients used to come on bicycles; now they come on motorcycles. We followed suit -- made changes and improved service, though still with cheaper tariffs."

Coincidence

Sismadi attributed some of his achievements to coincidence.

Sismadi established his first pharmacy in 1971. "There was a pharmacist looking for a job and at almost the same time a friend offered to help me run a pharmacy. I set up the first pharmacy at my house without any investment. Licenses, employees and medicine supplies were handled by my friend."

Sismadi also opened his first optical center, the Warakas, in early 1970s.

The ophthalmologists worked as opticians only. "There was a very limited number of optical centers at that time; that's why I decided to set up my own."

Sismadi said before the optical center opened he had started marketing eyeglasses he made door-to-door. He admitted he was also interested in making glasses and lenses.

Sismadi realized he had entrepreneurial talent when he was in fourth grade in Jatinom. "I read a book called Panglima Kemajuan (Commander of Development). It convinced me I was an entrepreneur."

"I became a doctor because it was my mother's wish. She said she had wanted me to become a doctor since I was a baby," he said.

According to Sismadi, who sleeps less than six hours a night, idealism is the most important factor in self-improvement.

"When I was a student I lived in Realino dormitory in Yogyakarta. The dormitory taught us about discipline, social care, tolerance and solidarity.

"There were frequent discussions teaching us to practice politics rationally, not emotionally. We also learned to respect other people's opinions. These experiences colored my life, career and management style," he said.

Asked about his ambitions and plans for the future, Sismadi said he wanted to continue serving the people.

"I want to create more employment and hire more people to improve the quality of lives of those around us through better health, education and welfare. My next plan is to open a polytechnic this year in my hometown of Jatinom."

Sismadi said he did not give much thought to failure and, significantly, did not have much regret over his life or career.