Two-Day-Old Infant Dies in Bima, Family Claims BPJS Hurdles Delayed Medication

A baby from Tolouwi Village, Monta District, Bima Regency, West Nusa Tenggara (NTB), died at the Bima Regional General Hospital (RSUD Bima). The family suspects the two-day-old infant was delayed in receiving treatment because he was not yet registered as a BPJS Kesehatan participant.

Ahyar, a representative of the victim’s family, stated that the baby boy was the child of Arif Rahman (28) and Fitriani (20). The infant was born at the Monta Community Health Centre but was in critical condition shortly after birth and had to be referred to RSUD Bima.

Upon arrival at RSUD Bima via a Monta Health Centre ambulance, the baby initially received medical attention. However, Ahyar said the subsequent treatment process was hindered because the patient was not yet registered with BPJS Kesehatan. He claimed that the pharmacy staff at RSUD Bima made it difficult to redeem the medication, even though the baby’s condition was extremely urgent and required immediate drugs.

Ahyar said the family requested to purchase the medication independently without using BPJS. They even offered their identity cards as collateral while waiting for money to be sent from their village. However, this request was not accommodated. Instead, the family was directed to first transfer the mother’s BPJS membership to the baby and complete the administrative documents before the medicine could be dispensed.

Shortly thereafter, the critically ill baby was pronounced dead by the RSUD Bima medical team. The body was then transported by ambulance to Tolouwi for burial. Ahyar expressed deep regret over the incident and strongly condemned the actions of the hospital. The Director of RSUD Bima has not yet responded to requests for confirmation.