Well-to people to pay higher hospital charges

Damar Harsanto, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The administration will increase the cost of first-class, second- class and VIP services at all city hospitals.

"The (new) rates for patients occupying class I, II and VIP rooms will be determined later in a gubernatorial decree," City Health Agency head Abdul Chalik Masulili said in a letter to the City Council that was made available to The Jakarta Post on Monday.

Jakarta has a total of nine city-owned hospitals.

In the letter dated April 15, Masulili said the charges for out-patient services, third-class rooms and services in the hospitals' emergency rooms would remain unchanged.

Masulili did not provide a reason for the higher charges, exactly how much charges would go up or when the plan would take effect.

According to Bylaw No. 3/1999 on local fees, class II rooms at city hospitals cost Rp 20,000 a day, class I rooms Rp 40,000 and VIP rooms Rp 50,000 a day.

The charge for third-class rooms is about Rp 20,000 a day, but residents who can produce proof that they are poor, either a family card (Gakin) or poverty card (SKTM), are supposed to receive free care.

VIP rooms at city hospitals are equipped with an air conditioner and two beds. A first-class room also has two beds but no air conditioner, while a second-class room can accommodate between three and five patients. A third-class room is usually occupied by more than five patients.

Governor Sutiyoso sent a letter to the City Council on March 30 calling for a delay in health care price increases because of the recent rise in fuel prices.

In his letter to council members deliberating a draft bylaw on local fees, Sutiyoso called for an across-the-board delay in rising health care costs, without excluding first-class, second- class and VIP services.

Councillor Syamsidar Siregar of the council's Commission E for health and people's welfare opposes raising health care costs, saying this would simply add another burden to residents.

"Many residents are still finding it difficult to survive following the 29 percent average fuel price increase. The administration should delay any price increases in health services at city hospitals, regardless of class," Syamsidar said.

The council is expected to pass the new bylaw on regional fees on Thursday.