Balikpapan hospital to expand building

BALIKPAPAN: Kanudjoso Djatiwibowo Hospital in Balikpapan plans to expand its building to accommodate more patients, the hospital management said.

Hospital director Rachim Dinata said demands for the hospital's services exceeded capacity.

"There are usually 60 patients on average that we put on the waiting list because our facilites aren't large enough. It is a serious problem," Rachim told The Jakarta Post.

Kanudjoso currently can only accommodate 285 patients while around 350 come daily. There are 18 VIP rooms, 10 first class rooms, 77 second class rooms, and 180 third class rooms.

"This hospital needs more rooms to cater for all of them. Therefore it is great that the city administration has decided to expand the VVIP, VIP, first class, and MCU rooms in separate building."

The new eight-story building will measure 2,184 square meters. Construction is estimated to cost Rp 132 billion and equipment a further Rp 128 billion.

The hospital is cooperating with Kaltim Prima Coal and Interplast Australia to create social activities by allowing the poor have free cleft lip operations and treatment for burn injuries. - JP