Soeharto is recovering: Hospital spokeswoman
Soeharto is recovering: Hospital spokeswoman
JAKARTA (JP): Former president Soeharto is in a stable
condition but still needs a couple of days to recover after
undergoing an appendectomy at Pertamina Hospital on Saturday, a
hospital employee said on Sunday.
A spokeswoman for the hospital, Susilawati, said that a
recovery period depended on a patient's physical condition and
his/her response to the effects of surgery.
"But Pak Harto is getting better and I assume he will have
completely recovered in two to three days," she told journalists.
Soeharto was rushed to the privately run hospital in South
Jakarta on Saturday morning and underwent surgery for an hour.
Later in the afternoon he was reportedly able to communicate with
visitors.
On Sunday, several former top officials visited the 79 year
old, who is staying in VVIP suite 603, including former Army
chief of staff Gen. (ret) R. Hartono, son-in-law Lt. Gen. (ret)
Prabowo Subianto and cousin magnate Sudwikatmono.
Sudwikatmono told journalists that the former ruler thanked
him for visiting.
In line with a Supreme Court verdict earlier this month, state
prosecutors are supervising the medical treatment of Soeharto, a
defendant in a US$571 million graft case, until he is fit enough
to stand trial. His medical costs are also being borne by the
state.
A team of doctors from Cipto Mangunkusumo General Hospital
(RSCM), which was officially appointed to treat Soeharto, was
previously scheduled to assess the medical record of Soeharto to
decide whether the former ruler should be hospitalized for
intensive treatment.
According to RSCM director Hermansyur Kartowisastro, the team
is led by the hospital's vice director for medical services
Ichramsjah A. Rachman who is aided by RSCM's head of neurology
Yusuf Misbach.
"The two will be assisted by several specialists," he was
quoted by Satunet.com as saying on the sidelines of a seminar
here on Sunday.
Chief prosecutor Muchtar Arifin told The Jakarta Post that
Soeharto's health condition would be observed by the team of
doctors.
"The surgery will not affect the preliminary plan for Monday's
observation. It is up to the RSCM doctors whether to examine
Soeharto for themselves," he added. (bby)