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)