Various efforts have been made by the government to help

Various efforts have been made by the government to help
destitute families access health services. Public health centers,
which provide cheap services and affordable medicines, have been
made available in most parts of the archipelago.

Recently the government issued a 'free card' for poor
families. Deprived people with the card get health treatment or
services for free. Unfortunately, not all people have been
informed about the new scheme. Worse, there are allegations that
many 'free cards' are owned by well-off people or families.

Reports made by a North Jakarta hospital belonging to the
Jakarta Administration said that poor families coming to the
hospital were not aware of the new health scheme.

The government should take prompt action to tally the correct
number of poor people and distribute the cards to the right
people.

The "free card" case is just one of the government's failures
to increase public awareness about the scheme. Information made
available by newspapers, radios or televisions has proven
inadequate.

-- Warta Kota, Jakarta