Soeharto calls for more kidney specialists

Soeharto calls for more kidney specialists

JAKARTA (JP): President Soeharto wants kidney specialists to
be accredited after a shorter period of study, saying that the
country is in dire need of more experts to help battle kidney
failure and hypertension.

Speaking at the opening of the national working conference of
the Indonesian Kidney Foundation (Yagina) at the Bina Graha
presidential office, Soeharto said kidney failure and
hypertension need to be properly and quickly handled.

He said that the existing number of specialists is far behind
the people's need.

"One of the problems hampering the efforts to increase the
number of kidney specialists is the long study term. Therefore,
it would be advantageous if the term could be reduced without
reducing quality," he said.

The President, who was accompanied by Minister of Health
Suyudi and Yagina chairman Soesilo Soedarman, said improvement in
people's welfare and also changes in life styles had led to the
growing number of people suffering from diseases such as heart,
blood vessel and kidney disorders.

Soeharto said good diet and exercise could also bring down the
number of people suffering from kidney problems.

The country's economy could also be affected by kidney
disorder and its related diseases, he said. "These chronic
diseases really reduce the sufferers' productivity."

Soeharto praised the establishment of several institutions
dealing with particular diseases such as the asthma, heart and
cancer foundations. "Those social and non-governmental
organizations are obviously very beneficial for the people's life
and the development of the nation," he said.

The President also suggested that Yagina initiate the
establishment of a special hospital for kidney and hypertension
which would also served as an institution for research, education
and information on the diseases.

After opening the conference, Soeharto was invited to see a
special van operated by the foundation which is equipped with
sophisticated machines for kidney dialysis and for destroying
kidney stones.

The President, who is also chairman of the Dharmais
philanthropic foundation, pledged to donate a car to the
foundation.

Soesilo, who is also Coordinating Minister of Politics and
Security, told reporters that the van would be used to serve
kidney patients living far away from hospitals.

For destroying kidney stones, one has to spend Rp 600,000
while for dialysis, one have to pay for between Rp 150,000 and Rp
200,000, according to Soesilo. (par)