Govt to build special hospital for athletes

The Jakarta Post ,  Jakarta   |  Wed, 03/26/2008 12:38 PM  |  Sports

A state minister says his office will build a special hospital for athletes in efforts to address injury problems that plague Indonesian athletes.

State Minister for Youth and Sports Affairs Adhyaksa Dault said the hospital, which would cost Rp 195 billion (US$21 million), was necessary due to the poor quality of medical care available to injured athletes.

"With a special hospital, we hope to help our injured athletes recover quickly from their injuries," he told reporters Monday after a hearing with the House of Representatives' Commission X overseeing sports.

He said the commission had lent its support to the plan.

Injured athletes are in dire need of faster recovery times than ordinary patients, he said, since they had to return as soon as possible to training.

The minister said the construction of the hospital could begin next year in Cibubur, East Jakarta.

However, House member Boy M.W. Saoul of the Democrat Party opposed the project, saying it would be too costly.

Instead of building a special hospital for athletes, Boy suggested the ministry cooperate with state hospitals in the treatment of athletes.

"Or you could cooperate with the Indonesian military to benefit from the military hospitals," he added. (ind)

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