Dec. 27, Online
Zainudin, from West Jurang Mangu in Pondok Aren district, South Tangerang, could not hide his deep regret at the death of his 2-year-old daughter Naila because she could not get the proper medical treatment. Zainudin said he could not make the down payment to get his daughter into a pediatric intensive care unit (ICU).
“The hospitals that had ICUs for children were asking for millions of rupiah as a down payment, and I couldn’t afford to pay,” Zainudin said Sunday. His story began when he took his daughter to Aqidah Hospital in Ciledug late Thursday after she suffered a complication. The family declined to say what that complication was.
Because the hospital lacked an ICU, it referred them to Bhakti Asih Hospital, also in Ciledug and also without an ICU. The doctor on duty at Bhakti Asih then referred the family to the much bigger Bintaro International Hospital.
Zainudin said he then called up the hospital for confirmation about the ICU, and was told he would have to pay Rp 10 million in advance and Rp 8 million a day for the treatment in the pediatric ICU.
Your comments:
There is an anecdote: don’t get sick if you can’t afford it.
Stephan
Garut, West Java
In Europe these doctors would face criminal charges and lose their accreditation as doctors. In addition, their universities would even withdraw their academic degrees, because they have broken their Hippocratic Oath.
H. Wippel
Austria
They should refer him to other affordable hospital.
Eremem
Jakarta
This ugly incident is just one of many of such ugly incidents that happen in a country like Indonesia in the context of corruption and lack of accountability.
Why do you think thousands of Indonesians seek treatment overseas each year for even simple procedures like a medical checkup? The hospital’s attitude is just a reflection of the total lack of accountability and corrupt culture in the country.
Think of Prita’s case and you wouldn’t wonder why this case happened. Think of Grandma Minah, think of how other systems have been manipulated and NOBODY gives a damn about it.
To be cynical, this unfortunate case is just one of many thousands that happen in this God-blessed-resource-rich-but-manipulated-by-ugly-human beings-country.
For the country to be strong and respected, Indonesia must first be responsible and accountable for its very own doings, before we start blaming other countries for everything that happens to our country and our citizens. Shame on you, Indonesia.
Salau
Yogyakarta
It’s not only the doctors, but the ones who own the hospitals are also filled with this hypocrisy.
Cuda
Jakarta
I guess many Indonesian doctors take the hypocritical oath very seriously.
PJ
Jakarta
Why blame the central government? Many health care regulations (especially hospital ones) have now been downgraded to the provincial or regent level. Some provinces and regencies have good public health regulation, providing free basic medical treatment to their citizens and acceptable management.
It is difficult to put a uniform standard of health regulation that works for all of Indonesia; hence, a lower level of administration. I think it is South Tangerang Municipality officials who should assume more responsibility.
Djaka
Yogyakarta
We had a very bad experience with a noted hospital in Bintaro during the birth of our daughter. The doctors are not honest with the mistakes they’ve made. Instead, they tried to cover it up.
I was left uninformed and panicked thinking that I might lose my baby.
I expressed my disappointment to the staff when we were leaving the hospital but got no response.
I am ashamed to see the kind of unethical practices done by doctors in an international hospital. I will not recommend the hospital to anybody.
Titi WHM
Houston
