Traditional clinics closed

JAKARTA (JP): Two traditional clinics in Central Jakarta have been closed for lacking operation permits, an official of city public order office says.

Toha Reno, head of the public entertainment section of the office, told reporters yesterday that the clinics located on Jl. Kramat Jaya and Jl. Karang Anyar had operation permits from the Ministry of Health, "but they do not have permits from the public order office".

The two clinics began operating six months ago.

Toha Reno said the clinics will be allowed to operate again after the owners obtain permits from the public order office.

Traditional clinics differ from traditional massage parlors in that the clinics give massages as well as prescribe natural herbal medicine.

Massage parlors must obtain operation permits from the tourism office and from the public order office.

The city has a total of 197 massage parlors and 160 traditional clinics. The city public order office has so far closed 29 parlors and clinics for lacking operation permits. (yns/sur)