Well-to people to pay higher hospital charges

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.