Waste at four hospitals poses health risk, legislators say

Fitri Wulandari, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Legislators were alarmed on Tuesday by a Supreme Audit Agency (BPK) report that four major state hospitals, one in Bali and three in Jakarta, have poor waste management systems.

They warned that the lack of proper waste treatment facilities would pose a health hazard not only to the patients but also to the local environment.

BPK identified that the four were Fatmawati Hospital, Persahabatan Pulmonary Hospital, Harapan Kita Heart Hospital -- all in Jakarta, and Sanglah Hospital in Denpasar, Bali.

The BPK report was raised in a hearing between House of Representatives Commission VII on people's welfare with officials from the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Manpower and Transmigration, social security company PT Jamsostek, and state- owned health insurance company Askes.

According to the report, the hospitals dump their waste in the open, posing health risks because it pollutes the environment and water sources.

They do not have adequate facilities to control levels of noise, dust, bacteria and toxic gas.

Legislators insisted that the hospitals should pay better attention to environmental management.

Legislator Nurdiati Akma from the Reform Faction said she was worried about the ramifications of the hospitals' neglect on environmental health.

"The hospital's job is to provide health services and not expose people to a dangerous environment," Nurdiati said.

She warned that the waste from the hospitals could endanger people living near the hospitals and therefore should be addressed immediately.

Sukardi Harun of the United Development Party (PPP) faction shared the concern. He said that such dumping of waste would not only cause a health risk but also discourage international donors.

"Most funding agencies require hospitals to follow proper waste management procedures. Otherwise, they won't give loans. The ministry should monitor these hospitals," Sukardi remarked.

Responding to legislators' concerns, Dadi Argadiredja, the ministry of health's secretary-general said the government would pay better attention to the problem, but due to financial constraints, improvements would be made in stages.

Dadi said the hospitals had started to improve their waste management using their private funds or aid from foreign donors.