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)