Team to asses Ma'ruf's health

The Jakarta Post , Jakarta | Mon, 04/09/2007 3:08 PM

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The team treating Home Minister M. Ma'ruf will on Monday assess his recovery after he was rushed to hospital on March 30, a team member said over the weekend.

Since being hospitalized, the minister's condition has showed signs of improvement.

""We will have a meeting on Monday to decide on several issues,"" Dr. Andang Joesoep of the Harapan Kita Cardiac Hospital was quoted as saying by Antara news wires on Saturday.

""Things to be discussed include whether to move the minister from the ICU ward.""

Earlier in the day, Health Minister Siti Fadilah Supari visited Ma'ruf and said he could already communicate verbally.

""The minister could hear me and answered my questions, although the communication was still limited,"" Siti told reporters.

""In general, his health condition is getting better.""

Ma'ruf was rushed to hospital on March 30 at around 5 a.m. after his health deteriorated rapidly.

Doctors induced him into a coma to prevent brain damage and fixed him with a respiratory device. Ma'ruf regained consciousness Wednesday and by Thursday the respiratory device was switched off.

Three ministers from the current administration have been hospitalized in the past year for various reasons.

State Minister for Administrative Reform Taufik Effendi was hospitalized for 10 days at the Gatot Subroto Army Hospital from late February to early March.

Public Works Minister Djoko Kirmanto was rushed to Pertamina Hospital on May 19, 2006, while State Minister for the Environment Rachmat Witoelar collapsed on board KRI Tanjung Dalpele on July 22, 2006.

Responding to questions on Ma'ruf's condition, Siti floated the idea of setting up a permanent team of doctors for ministers similar to the presidential medical team.

""There is currently such a team for ministers, although they are not very active now,"" she said.

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