Health Agency tells hospitals, 'Don't ignore the poor'

The Jakarta Post ,  Jakarta   |  Tue, 03/18/2008 11:16 AM  |  City

The Jakarta Health Agency is urging hospitals to continue serving low-income people eligible for the administration's health program, despite its Rp 25 billion (US$2.7 million) debt to the institutions.

"We know the health agency has not paid all its arrears to hospitals, but we hope they will continue to provide good service to the poor, especially in emergencies," the agency's insurance program head, Yuditha Endah Trisnaningtyas, told The Jakarta Post on Friday.

The statement was made in response to reports that low-income people were being denied access to treatment, especially since the government had neglected to repay hospitals' expenses incurred providing free or discounted services to the poor.

"Emergency units should receive patients who do not have Gakin (low-income family) cards or relief letters (SKTM). They should give patients time to prepare these documents which can be arranged within three days," she said.

Earlier on Friday the agency held a meeting with representatives from 62 hospitals to discuss the debt.

On Thursday, the agency announced it still owed Rp some 25 billion, most of which was for medical services provided to low-income people in 2007 by general and private hospitals across the city.

With the outstanding amount to pay, the agency will have only Rp 195 billion left to finance its insurance programs this year.

Three years ago, the administration launched Gakin cards to identify residents eligible for low-cost or free healthcare or food.

The administration also allows residents with Jakarta ID cards to apply for SKTM which states they are eligible for discounted or free healthcare.

While the Gakin system covers all of a patient's health expenses, the SKTM system does not.

Hospitals urged the agency to pay the arrears, saying they needed the funds for development programs.

Cipto Mangunkusumo General Hospital director Akmal Taher said the arrears did not affect the hospital's daily operations.

"It is not true that we have reduced our medical services for the poor. We always accept any patient who comes to the hospital's emergency unit, whether they are rich or poor. We never reject them," he said.

Besides urging the agency to pay the arrears, he suggested that it improve the Gakin system.

"The system needs to be improved so the health agency will not be late paying hospitals' claims," Akmal said. (trw)

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