Central Java hospitals lift price of medical services
Suherdjoko, The Jakarta Post, Semarang | Sat, 10/11/2008 11:26 AM
The cost of medical services in Central Java has increased following the provincial administration's approval of a proposal by 40 state-run hospitals to raise their prices.
Provincial secretary Hadi Prabowo said Thursday that the increase in the cost of medical services in Central Java aimed to support hospitals in serving patients and developing their capability, as well as to increase the provincial budget.
Since the proposal was approved, the cost of inpatient services in public hospitals in Central Java jumped by between 22.5 percent and 400 percent.
Hadi said prices of healthcare services in Central Java had not been revised since 2003, and the decision to raise the prices was to cover the increases in the costs of basic supplies.
For example, the price for a third-class room in the Moewardi hospital in Surakarta rose from Rp 15,000 (US$1.6) per day to Rp 55,000. The price for a third-class room in Tugurejo hospital in Semarang rose from Rp 25,000 to Rp 60,000.
The sharp increase in the price of health services triggered strong protests from residents, especially those on low incomes who do not hold social health insurance (jamkesmas) cards.
The state-run hospitals in Central Java that have raised their prices are Moewardi hospital in Surakarta, Margono hospital in Purwokerto, Tugurejo hospital in Semarang, Kelet hospital in Jepara and psychiatric hospitals in Semarang, Surakarta and Klaten.
Other medical centers that have raised their prices are the Lung-Disease Treatment and Prevention Health Unit (BP4) and Health Laboratory Unit (Balakes).
"The legislative council has approved the proposal but we are still waiting for the technical guide from the provincial legal bureau," Tugurejo hospital spokesman Karno said.
"We need to advertise the new rates to people. We probably need six months to do so," he added.
Council member Thontowi Jauhari also said the increase in the prices of medical services in Central Java was made only to cover increased costs of supplies.
