Soeharto gives up title to hospitals

Soeharto gives up title to hospitals

JAKARTA (JP): Former president Soeharto handed over the
ownership and management of Harapan Kita Child and Maternity
Hospital, Harapan Kita Cardiac Hospital and Dharmais Cancer
Hospital to the government yesterday.

As chairman of the foundations which built and ran the three
facilities in Jakarta, Soeharto only asked in return that the
foundations' names, Harapan Kita and Dharmais, be retained for
the institutions.

"We expect nothing more," Soeharto said.

Minister of Health Farid A. Moeloek, representing the
government, agreed to the terms.

Making a rare public appearance since his May 21 resignation,
Soeharto also handed over Rp 75 billion in savings deposits owned
by the hospitals to Moeloek during the ceremony at his Jl.
Cendana residence.

Soeharto also promised the Dharmais foundation would continue
to finance the expansion of the cancer hospital.

He was accompanied by executives of the two foundations,
including Mrs. Ibnu Sutowo, Mrs. Ali Murtopo, Mrs. Muhono and his
eldest son, Sigit Harjojudanto.

Soeharto said the hospitals were built with the sincere
intention of providing people with the necessary medical
facilities.

"We've never entertained any negative thoughts," Soeharto said
in apparent response to criticism of the massive fortunes that
many of his foundations amassed during his 32 years in power.

Located on Jl. S. Parman, West Jakarta, the cancer hospital is
the largest oncology treatment center in Southeast Asia and was
built at a cost of Rp 110 billion in 1991. It began operations in
1993.

The two Harapan Kita hospitals were established in 1979.

Farid said the hospitals would also be developed into medical
research centers.

"Allow me, in the name of the government, to express my
gratitude to foundations which have turned over the ownership and
management of the hospitals to the government," he said.

He said the government would maintain the hospitals'
professional standards and improve their performance.

Faried said he has set up an independent committee to study
ways of maximizing the benefits of the hospitals to the public.

"The team is composed of hospital experts and medical
students. It does not include anyone from the Ministry of
Health," he said. (rms)